Nose to Tail by Jet Midwest

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Introducing “Nose to Tail” a podcast where we explore the world of aviation lifecycle solutions, industry-related insights, and more. Join host Patrick Kraus, COO and Managing Director at Jet Midwest, along with industry experts for podcast conversations that encompass topics in the commercial aviation marketplace — from nose to tail. Each episode features interviews with some of our colleagues, co-workers, and friends who are deeply involved in the aviation industry. We’ll discuss the latest trends and innovations, explore the ins and outs of aircraft trading, offer insight for operators looking to extract the highest value from their fleets, and share personal stories from around the globe. Whether you’re a seasoned aviation enthusiast or just getting started in the industry, “Nose to Tail” is the perfect podcast to learn and connect.

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60 recent

June 12, 202629 min

EP 90: Building Test Capability That Lasts with Todd Meredith

A system can work today and still become a liability tomorrow. In aerospace testing, capability is not just about whether a test stand can run. It is about whether that system can stay reliable, supportable, and useful through upgrades, turnover, changing aircraft platforms, and long aircraft lifecycles. In this episode of Nose to Tail, Patrick Kraus sits down with Todd Meredith, Senior Vice President at Testek Solutions, for a behind-the-scenes look at the test benches and test stands that support aerospace repair, production, and return-to-service decisions. Todd breaks down what test equipment actually does in real-world workflows, why “no fault found” is still an important result, how older aircraft create long-term support challenges, and why commercial off-the-shelf components can be critical when a system needs to last for decades. The conversation also explores the make-or-buy decision behind test capability: what happens when a custom system depends too heavily on one person, why documentation and support networks matter, and how teams can design test systems that survive upgrades instead of requiring full replacement. In this conversation, we cover: + What test benches and test stands actually do in aerospace repair and production + How testing supports return-to-service decisions, repeatable quality, and throughput + Why older aircraft and legacy technology create long-term sustainment challenges + Why commercial off-the-shelf components matter in long-life systems + The risk of custom-built systems without documentation, training, or support paths + How test benches can be maintained and upgraded instead of replaced + What more-electric aircraft, including the 787, may mean for future test capability Subscribe to Nose to Tail for more conversations with aviation leaders, operators, MRO partners, and aftermarket experts. Get ready for new episodes of our podcast every other Friday. Learn more about our sponsor, Jet Midwest, at jetmidwest.com. Jet Midwest is a global, multifaceted aircraft service provider. Since 1997, it has specialized in providing exceptional value to the commercial aviation industry through complete nose-to-tail product support solutions for passenger and cargo aircraft.

May 29, 202641 min

EP 89: Work as Imagined vs Work as Done: Closing the Documentation Gap in Aviation with Brent Webb

Aviation runs on strict standards. But it operates in the exceptions. Older fleets, incomplete records, and AOG pressure don’t always fit neatly as a set formula. This conversation explores the gap between ideal process and operational constraints, and what practical teams do to close that gap without compromising standards. Brent Webb breaks down why parts acceptance is getting harder, how documentation demands collide with older-platform limitations, and why provenance systems and stronger traceability are becoming a reliable path forward for trust in used material. In this episode, we cover: Why legacy fleets create a documentation gap under modern acceptance criteria What AOG reveals about ideal processes vs execution How teams stay compliant while still being adaptable and practical Why traceability/provenance systems reduce uncertainty over time Please like, subscribe, and follow along for more. Get ready for new episodes of our podcast every other Friday. Learn more about our sponsor, Jet Midwest, at jetmidwest.com. Jet Midwest is a global, multifaceted aircraft service provider. Since 1997, it has specialized in providing exceptional value to the commercial aviation industry through complete nose-to-tail product support solutions for passenger and cargo aircraft.

May 15, 202648 min

EP 88: How Smart Asset Buyers Think | Asset Decisions in a Tighter Aftermarket with Bill Thompson

In a tighter market, the advantage isn’t finding more deals. It’s making cleaner decisions. Competition is up, pricing pressure is real, and the easy opportunities are harder to come by. So your framework sometimes matter more than your instincts. This conversation breaks down what disciplined decision-making looks like in practice: evaluating assets at the granular level (repair costs, resale expectations, scrap yield), staying true to your model when you’re tempted to stretch, and knowing when free is actually expensive. In this episode, Patrick Kraus sits down with Bill Thompson of EirTrade Aviation to explore how experienced buyers think under pressure, and what habits keep decision quality high when the market gets tight. In this conversation, we cover: Why the market feels tighter: more bidders, higher prices, fewer inside-track deals Granular modeling: repair cost, resale, and yield reality produces valuation discipline Why you don’t bend your model to win a deal (accept lower margin or walk away) Rebuild vs part-out logic: how exit strategies shift with market conditions Why free assets can still be losses (hidden costs + system burden) Get ready for new episodes of our podcast every other Friday. Learn more about our sponsor, Jet Midwest, at jetmidwest.com. Jet Midwest is a global, multifaceted aircraft service provider. Since 1997, it has specialized in providing exceptional value to the commercial aviation industry through complete nose-to-tail product support solutions for passenger and cargo aircraft.

May 1, 202624 min

EP 87: Availability Is a System | Building a One-Stop Shop in MRO with Sami Maalouf

Availability isn’t just having parts. It’s having a system that removes friction. Speed is usually the result of removing bottlenecks, organized so urgent requests don’t get stuck in between steps. It comes from fewer handoffs, not bigger heroics. It comes through process, capability, and coordination designed to deliver the same quality under pressure. Every operation has two realities: the daily workload and the unexpected problems. The difference is whether your operation can handle both without slowing down. In this episode, Sami Maalouf explains how Etihad Engineering builds that kind of one-stop shop model: integrated hangar capability, back shops and component support, engineering (Part 21), training (Part 147), and logistics positioned to support global operators. And while structure creates speed, transparency reduces second-guessing. And second-guessing costs time. In MRO, trust and clarity often determine how quickly work moves forward. In this conversation, we cover: - What a one-stop shop really means and how it reduces friction - Logistics as a competitive advantage (free zone + freighters on site) - How Part 21 engineering support and Part 147 training strengthen execution - Why OEM partnerships expand repair pathways and credibility - Why trust, transparency, and flexibility still matter at the end of the day Get ready for new episodes of our podcast every other Friday. Learn more about our sponsor, Jet Midwest, at jetmidwest.com. Jet Midwest is a global, multifaceted aircraft service provider. Since 1997, it has specialized in providing exceptional value to the commercial aviation industry through complete nose-to-tail product support solutions for passenger and cargo aircraft.

April 24, 202611 min

EP 86: Hope, One Step at a Time: The Tartan Trek Across America with Craig Ferguson

Hope is closer than you might imagine. And sometimes, the biggest impact you can make is to simply keep pushing forward. Years ago, Craig Ferguson was deeply impacted by the loss of a close friend, Russell, to mental health struggles. That loss stayed with him. Craig chose to honor his friend by creating momentum in the opposite direction. Toward help. Toward conversation. Toward support that reaches people before it’s too late. Today, Craig is walking 3,000 miles from Los Angeles to Boston in his kilt to raise awareness and funding for SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health). This trek is a tribute, a fundraiser, and a reminder. Support exists. Asking for help is strength. And none of us are meant to carry this alone. And this week, Jet Midwest was given the opportunity to walk alongside him. We wanted to use our Nose to Tail platform and resources to give Craig additional support on his journey, and to help more people discover the cause behind the miles. In this episode, we check in with Craig at the halfway mark as he walks through Kansas City, and hear what keeps him moving - physically, mentally, and emotionally. It’s not about pushing through alone. It’s about moving forward with help. If you’re struggling, we hope Craig’s journey opens a pathway to find support. If you’re moved by his mission, we ask that you walk with him — and help him reach more people. Ways you can help To donate: thetartantrek.co.uk To follow Craig’s journey: Instagram: CraigFerguson_one (links are in his bio) (If this resonates, share it with someone. And check in on someone.) In this conversation, we cover: - Why Craig started walking for mental health, and the story behind Russell - What it’s like to keep going day after day, and keeping your mind steady - The route so far and reaching Kansas City at the halfway mark - Craig’s fundraising progress and how to donate / support - Craig’s closing message to listeners: donate, follow, and get behind the cause Please like, follow, and subscribe. Get ready for new episodes of our podcast every other Friday. Learn more about our sponsor, Jet Midwest, at jetmidwest.com. Jet Midwest is a global, multifaceted aircraft service provider. Since 1997, it has specialized in providing exceptional value to the commercial aviation industry through complete nose-to-tail product support solutions for passenger and cargo aircraft.

April 10, 202655 min

EP 85: How High-Performing MRO Teams Are Built with Brandon Allen

What looks like speed is usually preparation. In the MRO world, the outcomes customers rely on (turn time, quality, communication, reliability) are built long before the part arrives. They come from training, standards, repeatable execution, and the behind-the-scenes discipline most people never see. Host Patrick Kraus (COO & Managing Director, Jet Midwest) sits down with Brandon Allen, Director of MRO Services and Accountable Manager, for a Meet the Experts conversation on what it takes to build a shop that can deliver under unpredictable constraints, especially when parts are hard to source, and timelines keep tightening. Brandon shares how teams are developed, how new repair capability gets built, and why doing it right is the only way speed becomes sustainable. In this conversation, we cover: + Brandon’s role in MRO services + How high-performing teams are built: hiring, training, and shop culture + The behind-the-scenes work people don’t see (inspection, documentation, coordination, shipping) + How new repair and inspection capability gets built (and scaled) + Parts availability pressure and how repair and internal inventory keep the work moving + Continuous improvement in action + What Brandon is most excited to tackle next, and why it matters for customers. Please like, subscribe, and follow for more. Get ready for new episodes of our podcast every other Friday. Learn more about our sponsor, Jet Midwest, at jetmidwest.com. Jet Midwest is a global, multifaceted aircraft service provider. Since 1997, it has specialized in providing exceptional value to the commercial aviation industry through complete nose-to-tail product support solutions for passenger and cargo aircraft.

March 27, 202649 min

EP 84: Meet the Expert: Inside the Engine Shortage| DER Repairs, Lead Times, & Strategy with Rick Tobey

In today’s engine market, access and lead time matter as much as parts. What keeps programs moving is rarely one big move. It’s a series of disciplined decisions. Choosing the right path early. Keeping records clean. And reducing delays before they compound. This episode launches Meet the Experts, a Nose to Tail series featuring the specialists inside Jet Midwest. Host Patrick Kraus (COO & Managing Director, Jet Midwest) sits down with Rick Tobey (Director of Engine Programs, Jet Midwest) to walk through how engine decisions actually get made, and what experienced teams do to keep work moving when timelines tighten. This episode covers: + Why engine shortages continue to impact the market + How lead times are changing the way decisions get made + What DER repairs are and why they matter more than ever + The balance between OEM, PMA, and alternative repair strategies + How relationships with repair shops influence outcomes + What has changed in the engine market since COVID + Where additive manufacturing and new technology may play a role This is a look at the reality behind engine programs. The constraints. The decisions. And the people working through them every day. If you work in aviation, you know there is no single path to a solution. Get ready for new episodes of our podcast every other Friday. Learn more about our sponsor, Jet Midwest, at jetmidwest.com. Jet Midwest is a global, multifaceted aircraft service provider. Since 1997, it has specialized in providing exceptional value to the commercial aviation industry through complete nose-to-tail product support solutions for passenger and cargo aircraft.

March 6, 202653 min

EP 83: Building an Aviation Business in the Aftermarket with Delphine Kennedy

Speed is a tool. But trust is the advantage. Speed can win a moment. Trust wins the relationship. And relationships are what people return to when the stakes are real. That thread runs throughout this conversation: the extra effort, the follow-through, and the decisions that earn confidence over time. Host Patrick Kraus (COO & Managing Director, Jet Midwest) sits down with Delphine Kennedy of DBK Aero to trace her path from early days around MRO work in France to building her own brokerage in the UK, and what she’s learned about leadership, relationships, and solving problems when time is the constraint. Delphine shares how mentors shaped her approach, why she champions women in aviation, and what changes have helped the industry become more welcoming over the last two decades. She also breaks down how DBK launched during COVID, why she created the Smart Revenue Partner (SRP) program, and how AI-enabled quoting supports a small team without replacing the human side that makes the aftermarket work. In this conversation, we cover: • How Delphine’s early MRO exposure and AOG desk experience shaped her career • The leadership lessons that carried from employee to entrepreneur • What the industry can do to attract and retain more women across every level • Aftermarket vs OEM pace, process, and decision making during AOG moments • What SRP stands for and why Delphine built the Smart Revenue Partner program • How AI supports 24 7 quoting while relationships still drive the outcome • Trade show culture, building community, and why aviation stays a family Thank you for listening to Nose to Tail. Please like and subscribe to our channel. Get ready for new episodes of our podcast every other Friday. Learn more about our sponsor, Jet Midwest, at jetmidwest.com. Jet Midwest is a global, multifaceted aircraft service provider. Since 1997, it has specialized in providing exceptional value to the commercial aviation industry through complete nose-to-tail product support solutions for passenger and cargo aircraft.

February 20, 202640 min

EP 82: Inside the World of MRO Branding with Michaela Preusser

A strong MRO brand isn’t about visuals. It’s the alignment between culture, message, and customer experience. When those three match, trust comes faster, decisions get easier, and the market remembers you for the right reasons. Host Patrick Kraus (COO & Managing Director, Jet Midwest) sits down with Michaela Preusser, Brand Designer and Strategist, to unpack what “branding” really means in technical industries like aviation MRO, and why the best brand work starts long before anyone touches a logo. Michaela shares how early work in aviation and MRO led her to focus on helping technical organizations articulate who they are with clarity and confidence. So the way they show up matches the quality of the work they deliver. In this conversation, we cover: + What branding actually is (and what it isn’t) in technical industries + Why strong brands win trust regardless of company size + The strategy work most teams skip—and why it costs them later + Why internal rollout and team buy-in determine whether a rebrand succeeds + Michaela’s co-creation approach and why she often presents one fully developed concept + How guidelines & workshops turn a brand into something teams can use consistently Get ready for new episodes of our podcast every other Friday. Learn more about our sponsor, Jet Midwest, at jetmidwest.com. Jet Midwest is a global, multifaceted aircraft service provider. Since 1997, it has specialized in providing exceptional value to the commercial aviation industry through complete nose-to-tail product support solutions for passenger and cargo aircraft.

February 6, 202638 min

EP 81: Dive into Aviation Repairs with Milton Aguilera

In this episode of Nose to Tail, host Patrick Kraus, Managing Director & COO of Jet Midwest, sits down with Milton Aguilera, President/Owner at STAR, to hear how his aviation career started in shipping and receiving and evolved into sales, leadership, and eventually launching his own repair station. We talk about learning the business through mentors, making the jump from parts to component level MRO, and what it takes to grow capabilities while navigating today’s supply chain constraints. Milton also shares how he approaches hiring and training, and why strong customer service continues to shape the work. Please like, subscribe, and follow along for future episodes. Get ready for new episodes of our podcast every other Friday. Learn more about our sponsor, Jet Midwest, at jetmidwest.com. Jet Midwest is a global, multifaceted aircraft service provider. Since 1997, it has specialized in providing exceptional value to the commercial aviation industry through complete nose-to-tail product support solutions for passenger and cargo aircraft.