Maintenance/modifications? No problem

Chris Haight, General Manager, Straight Flight Inc., on running Centennial Airport’s top structural repair, maintenance, and major modification facility

Q: Chris, how long has Straight Flight been in the MRO field?

CH: The company was founded in 1986 and has developed into Centennial Airport’s top structural repair, maintenance, and major modification facility using the aircraft industry’s newest innovative techniques. The way we service, repair, and modify aircraft has moved us ahead of our competitors.

Having over 25 years of extensive aircraft experience that ranges from commercial airliners to small commuter aircraft, my personal idealism revolves around a more profound customer interaction coupled with a team building mentality. Our distinctive presence at Centennial affords operators a centralized location that’s paired with holiday retreats capable of supporting our entire client base.

Our founder, Ernest Smith, a licensed mechanic and pilot, understands all too well the importance of ensuring that the work performed on your aircraft is both safe and affordable. He is well aware that dedication to each customer is paramount in maintaining and growing any business.

Straight Flight was created to meet the demands of KAPA’s aviation arena and has performed numerous structural repairs and modifications to both general aviation as well as military aircraft of domestic and international origin. Straight Flight has an exceptional group of technicians coupled with our well-equipped locations. This allows us to be extremely proficient in minimizing downtime and lowering repair costs.

In February 2007, Straight Flight, Inc., was acquired by Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC). SNC is a world-class prime systems integrator and electronic systems provider known for its rapid, innovative, and agile technology solutions. Fast-growing and widely diversified, SNC is a high-tech electronics, engineering, and manufacturing corporation that continues to expand its impressive portfolio of capabilities, products and services.

Successfully working as a team to meet the needs of our customers has allowed us to grow and expand our capabilities, and in the process, we have taken on a more diverse range of general and corporate aircraft.

Performance and integrity are key components for ensuring the success of our customers. Without that success, Straight Flight would not be where we are today. We have been working with the Federal Aviation Administration and its designees for nearly 30 years through our certified repair station and the development of custom modifications.

Straight Flight is intimately familiar with the requirements and processes of Supplemental Type Certificates since we have developed several over the last 30 years.

Q: What is the main focus of the MRO operation?

CH: Our main focus is Government Aircraft Maintenance, corporate jet and turboprop markets.

Q: What are the basic requirements for a high-quality MRO operation?

CH: Having a quality management system in place is key. Straight Flight’s expert staff delivers the best possible value in aircraft maintenance. Our commitment to earning and keeping the confidence of our customers is demonstrated through expert maintenance, outstanding service, innovative thinking, and solution-oriented processes. It sets us apart from the competition, thus ensuring maximum value for our customers.

Q: How do you keep up quality assurance?

CH: Straight Flight was created to meet the demands of general aviation and has performed countless heavy maintenance events, structural repairs, and modifications to include Non-Standard Air Vehicles for the U.S. Military, both domestically and abroad. With 30 years of profound craftsmanship and a customer base in the thousands, Straight Flight maintains quality levels that align with our customers’ core values.

We are staffed with over 50 highly skilled and licensed technicians to include sheet metal, composites, and avionics skill sets.

Read the full article here: https://issuu.com/bizavmedia/docs/bam018_summer_2021/26?fr=sNTJmMTI3NzQ1NDc