Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

Contributor

Mark Huber

Louisiana-based Metro Aviation is marking its 35th year in business. Metro is the largest privately owned, traditional air medical operator. In addition, it operates &nbsp;a completion center and fields a fleet of more than 140 aircraft for 35 air medical programs across the country.

 


Over the course of three-and-a-half decades, Metro became the first operator to equip its entire fleet with night-vision goggles (NVGs) and partnered&nbsp;with FlightSafety International to build the world’s first level-D, full-motion EC135 simulator and the Western Hemisphere’s first level-D full-motion EC145 simulator.&nbsp;Metro was among the first companies to see the benefit of simulator time for pilots, sending them to train in other model types before simulators for their fleet even existed.&nbsp;In addition, Metro was one of three Part 135 operators out of 2,200 to reach Level IV of the FAA’s Safety Management System Pilot Program, and the only Part 145 certificate holder to reach Level IV.

 


Metro's Helicopter Flight Training Center (HFTC) in Shreveport, Louisiana, attracts clients worldwide including Aerios Global earlier this year, the first South African company to train there.&nbsp;The offshore and land-based helicopter services company, stationed in Cape Town, operates a variety of aircraft including an EC120, AS350, AS365 and the EC145.&nbsp;The EC145 was retrofitted in Pennsylvania by Paradigm Aerospace Corporation, a Metro Aviation company, for Aerios.

 


Metro&nbsp;has added services over the last decade that include a smartphone app to request a helicopter; a customer support team to aid operations customers with billing and business management;&nbsp; holding the annual Leadership Education, Advancement and Development Conference; and making large inventory investment to reduce program down times.

 


“We have always been invested in our customer as a partner, and because of that we have enjoyed a slow and steady growth,” says Metro CEO Mike Stanberry.&nbsp;

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Metro Aviation Turns 35

Becoming an early adopter of simulator training is among the company's achievements.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Jury awards $116 million for doors-off crash victim

FlyNYON Tragedy Results in Hefty Jury Award

Matt Thurber

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Upgrade is available at MD Helicopters service centers

First MD500E to MD530F Helicopter Conversion Done

Chad Trautvetter

Commercial shipments nearly doubled, while new military program brought in more than $80M

Bell Soars in 3Q with Higher Civil Helo Deliveries, FLRAA

Charles Alcock

Japan General Aviation Service is already a customer for the larger 429 model

Bell Appoints Japanese Dealer for 505 Helicopter

Plan will help ensure long-term job stability for Portugal workforce

Avincis Strengthens Portugal Helicopter MRO Base

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

More In Rotorcraft

FlyNYON Tragedy Results in Hefty Jury Award

Jury awards $116 million for doors-off crash victim

First MD500E to MD530F Helicopter Conversion Done

Upgrade is available at MD Helicopters service centers

Bell Soars in 3Q with Higher Civil Helo Deliveries, FLRAA

Commercial shipments nearly doubled, while new military program brought in more than $80M

Bell Appoints Japanese Dealer for 505 Helicopter

Japan General Aviation Service is already a customer for the larger 429 model

Avincis Strengthens Portugal Helicopter MRO Base

Plan will help ensure long-term job stability for Portugal workforce

PHI Adds H175s to Australian Energy Support Fleet

Twin-engine aircraft will be based at Broome in Western Australia

Onboard Talon Dual Cargo Hook Approved in Bell 429

Kits are retrofittable to 429s with existing single- or dual-hook systems

Operators Enrolling in VAI Risk Accreditation Program

ORRA encourages helicopter companies to go beyond traditional risk management

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