Team Thrust Tech Flying into 2022
As the global aviation industry bids farewell to 2021 and moves with hope into a new year, Thrust Tech Accessories (TTA) is cleared for takeoff to successfully meet a shifting industry dynamic – stronger growth in the regional commercial airline and private aviation sectors. TTA serves those critical aviation sectors with high-quality MRO services and is well positioned in the coming year, given this year’s sizable investments in people, equipment and solutions.
“The reality is that more and more people today are utilizing private flights or charters,” says Stanley Kowlessar, TTA’s president and general manager, based near Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport. He explains that many consumers and business travelers prefer the safety of a private charter, personal aircraft or corporate jet in this era.
In addition, Kowlessar points out that many of the major carriers are now flying 75- or 80-passenger airplanes much more so than in the past. While they once serviced the Florida-New York market with heavy aircraft, for instance, now they are using smaller jets like the Embraer EXK. Plus, as business travel continues to make its comeback, corporations are putting their private business jets back into service as executives jet off to meetings across the globe.
“Companies are finding that the in-person contact is highly valuable when it comes to delicate negotiations, making new business proposals, or discussing sensitive issues,” says Kowlessar. “Virtual video connections are fine, but there’s really no substitute for that in-person human touch for important business discussions.”
So, as these three sectors – private aviation, aircraft charters and the regional airline industry – increase their flights and options, obviously the need for high-quality MRO services is on the rise, too. That’s TTA’s specialty, and during 2020 and 2021, it took major steps to enhance its operation, services and cost solutions for aviation industry clients, and to position itself for the future too.
With four decades of solid MRO experience, TTA more recently also has benefitted from new ownership and operational management – by working diligently to create value for aviation industry customers, enhance offerings of MRO products, and services and, even within the past year, to make significant capital investments for equipment, technology, and improvements to the Ft. Lauderdale facility.
“First, and foremost, we have put more focus on growing our employee team of experts,” says Kowlessar. “We absolutely know that it’s people – not simply parts or innovative MRO solutions– that help TTA exceed our customers’ expectations over and over again.” So, even during the worst of the pandemic, TTA didn’t lay off employees. The company actually hired more support staffers and aviation and technology experts.
For example, the engineering department now has doubled in engineers to help TTA expand its MRO capacity and provide alternative PMA and DER solutions for the supply chain challenges many aviation industry clients have faced and continue to face.
In addition, TTA has purchased and continues to buy the latest and greatest new MRO equipment as part of extensive capital investments in the business. “For example, we have acquired a new, state-of-the-art hydraulic test stand,” he says. “We’ve also expanded our pneumatic capacity high pressure flow – allowing for at least three to four times our previous capacity. We added a balancing machine and other equipment too.”
“We’re also making continuous improvements to our test equipment, some of which is constructed internally, all in conjunction with external support,” Kowlessar emphasizes. “All these steps represent investments we’ve made to give us more capacity, less downtime and more reliability in our test equipment.”
In other steps, TTA is currently upgrading all its software and its technology server for the second time in four years. It’s also sizably beefed up its inventory of aircraft parts to assist clients dealing with those onerous, continuing supply chain issues.
So, putting all these efforts together, “the result is that every month we’re gaining new customers, both in the U.S. and across the globe, for new MRO agreements or good potential for future business,” he adds. Sometimes, the new contacts don’t yield a slew of immediate business flowing immediately, but Kowlessar believes that what’s paramount is the building of solid business relationships – forging the path to future MRO transactions that benefit both TTA and its customers.
Ending 2021 with positive momentum, TTA has achieved its short-term goals and enters 2022 with a new sense of resilience. The veteran MRO provider is also working in earnest on five- and 10-year goals for long-term growth and sustainability.
Kowlessar emphasizes: “Considering the major steps forward we’ve taken in the past year and a half, our future looks extremely bright.” Those accomplishments include:
- New MRO solutions and greater capacity for clients,
- Acquisition of the latest, state-of-the-art equipment,
- Increased focus on technology,
- Strong investments to further increase TTA’s parts inventory,
- Growth of our expert team – the people who really deserve credit for making it all happen, and
- Fortifying the loyalty of our customers.
So, to all our employees and customers, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and here’s to a good year ahead in 2022.
