Dan Black & Richard Urban A shop is nothing without experienced people on board to bring in customers and be their point of contact through the work, and equally experienced technicians to do the work and mentor others. Aero Air’s Richard Urban and Dan Black have that experience in spades.
Urban is a maintenance sales representative for the Hillsboro, Oregon, Twin Commander Factory Authorized Service Center. The role requires him to serve current clients and find new customers. He also interfaces with the shop to ensure the customer will be able to receive the work they expect and need in a timely manner. It’s a role that bridges the gap between two groups of people who don’t often speak the same language. And Urban has the perfect resume for it.
He started his career working for Continental Airlines in Los Angeles, where for eight years he served as a technician on various powerplants, and DC-10 and Airbus line maintenance. Later he worked as a flight engineer on a 727, and as a product support engineer for a few aerospace OEMs. The opportunity to come to Aero Air 13 years ago was a chance to expand his knowledge and experience to business and general aviation. He was ready for a new challenge, and he thinks his experience working in engineering, as a hands-on technician, and as aircrew has served him well in the role. “Everything that I’ve done at one time or another has helped me here,” he said.
Airframe Project Manager Dan Black has been at Aero Air for 23 years. His role requires him to manage projects at the shop level, ensuring technicians work effectively as a team on everything from AOG to major overhauls. Sometimes Black manages the project from a distance, focusing on paperwork, documentation, scheduling, and interfacing with parts and other divisions, and sometimes he’s a member of the crew working hands-on. Although his title specifies airframes, Black is Honeywell trained on three engines, including the Twin Commander’s 331s. He has a particular fondness for working on engines. “I enjoyed it, and they needed the help, so that worked out well for me,” he said.
Before Aero Air Black spent four years in the Navy as a technician. He got out, earned his A&P certificates, and has been with the company ever since.
