The Vertical MRO Podcast

Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Plus.
In Part Two of the Vertical MRO Podcast's conversation with Ryan Hader of iAERO, hosts David Kreutzkamp and Howie Murray dig into the realities behind supplemental type certificates and aircraft modifications.
Starting with something as seemingly simple as a cup holder, Ryan explains why permanently installing a new component in an aircraft can introduce questions around materials, flammability, structural loads, testing, documentation, and certification—and why the cost of proving a modification is safe and compliant can quickly exceed the cost of the component itself.
The conversation expands into increasingly complex modifications and what it actually takes to move an idea from an operator's requirement to an engineered, tested, approved, and supportable aircraft installation. Ryan also discusses the additional challenges of taking modifications across borders and navigating different regulatory authorities and approval requirements.
For maintainers and operators, the discussion provides a look behind the paperwork at the engineering intent behind an STC—and why understanding that intent matters when installing, maintaining, or modifying certified equipment in the field.
 
Special thanks to this episode's sponsors, Airbus and Vertical Aviation International.

Also, be sure to check out Vertical MRO's Instagram channel for even more awesome content highlighting the awesome work being done to keep the rotorcraft community flying!

Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Plus.

In Part One of this two-part conversation, Vertical MRO host David Kreutzkamp and co-host Howie Murray sit down with Ryan Hader, founder of iAERO, to talk about the experiences that shaped his approach to aircraft maintenance, engineering, and modification.
Ryan traces his path from a lifelong interest in building and tinkering through hands-on aircraft maintenance and increasingly complex modification work. Those experiences eventually exposed gaps between what operators needed from their aircraft and the solutions readily available to them, helping lead to the creation of iAERO.
The conversation also takes a detour into 3D printing and scanning, with Ryan and Howie exploring how increasingly accessible technology can help solve real-world problems in the hangar and support the development of new aircraft solutions.
Throughout the discussion, Ryan shares the value of combining hands-on maintenance experience with engineering and certification knowledge—and why understanding how an aircraft is actually operated matters when developing a modification.
Part Two takes that conversation deeper into the world of STCs, including why even seemingly simple aircraft modifications can become complex certification projects.

Special thanks to this episode's sponsors, Precision Aviation Group and Vertical Aviation International.

Also, be sure to check out Vertical MRO's Instagram channel for even more awesome content highlighting the awesome work being done to keep the rotorcraft community flying!

The Vertical MRO Conference kicks off tomorrow in Kelowna, British Columbia, and we're getting the crew together for a quick look at what's ahead.
David Kreutzkamp is joined by Mike and Linda Reyno, Jon Gray, and Maddy Reyno to talk about what attendees can expect—from expanded technical education and hands-on training to leadership development, workforce initiatives, students, exhibitors, and aircraft on site at the KF Centre for Excellence.
Whether you're travelling to Kelowna, arriving today, or following along from home, consider this your welcome to the 2026 Vertical MRO Conference—and a preview of what the MRO and HeliCASTS teams have planned throughout the show.
And for our Irving community, don't worry—we'll be back with a special preview ahead of the Nov. 16–18 conference in Texas.

Thank you to this episode's sponsors: Robinson Helicopter and Airbus.

This special crossover episode of the Vertical MRO Podcast comes from our sister show, The Helicopter Podcast, bringing an operator-focused conversation directly to the maintenance community.

Recorded at VERTICON 2026, The Helicopter Podcast host Halsey Schider sits down with Joe LaRue of Prairie Air to discuss his path through aviation and the role quality maintenance has played in building a business focused on Robinson helicopter operations and support.

Joe shares why good maintenance goes beyond keeping an aircraft serviceable. The conversation explores record-keeping, long-term aircraft support, and how the quality of work performed throughout a helicopter's life can directly affect safety, reliability and aircraft value.

Joe and Halsey also look at one of the industry's biggest challenges: developing the next generation of pilots and maintainers. Joe discusses Prairie Air's work with local schools and community programs, why exposing young people to aviation matters, and what the industry can do to create clearer pathways into these careers.

The conversation rounds out with a look toward emerging technologies, including autonomous aircraft, and where new tools may fit alongside the people and skills that keep today's helicopter industry moving.

Originally recorded for The Helicopter Podcast, we're sharing this conversation with the Vertical MRO audience because Joe's perspective on maintenance, workforce development and long-term aircraft support is equally at home in the MRO community.

Thank you to this episode's sponsors, Robinson Helicopter, Precision Aviation Group and Airbus

Welcome to another episode of Vertical MRO Tech Talk presented by Bell.

In this episode of Bell Tech Talk, Vertical MRO's David Kreutzkamp is joined by Bell customer support engineers Eric Parent and Jason Estaphan for a deep dive into common Bell 505 maintenance questions coming from the field.
Eric and Jason share practical guidance on servicing the Bell 505 live mount system, hydraulic pump drive shaft and NR pickup troubleshooting, differences maintainers should know between the Garmin G1000 NXi and earlier systems, and techniques for more efficient rotor track and balance.
Along the way, they highlight procedural updates, common troubleshooting considerations, and lessons from Bell's field support teams that can help maintainers diagnose problems and keep the 505 performing as designed.

We want to hear from you! – techtalk@bellflight.com
Need help with your Bell helicopter? Email us at productsupport@bellflight.com
or visit https://www.bellflight.com/support/commercial.