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Nose to Tail by Jet Midwest

Nose to Tail by Jet Midwest

Hosted by Jet Midwest

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Episodes

92

Latest episode

Jul 2026

Language

EN

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.

Listen to episodes

60 recent
August 14, 202624 min

EP 94: What Makes Growth Sustainable with Rob Lastra

Growth adds capacity. It also adds complexity. As an MRO grows, the foundation underneath it has to become more disciplined. More people, customers, capabilities, and handoffs create more places for quality, information, and accountability to slip through the cracks. Sustainable growth comes from tightening the systems beneath the work. In this episode of Nose to Tail, Patrick Kraus sits down with Rob Lastra of LF Avionics to explore what that looks like inside a growing Part 145 repair operation. We discuss why technical experience should lead to better questions, how process protects against assumptions, and why the lessons learned by founders and veteran technicians eventually have to become part of the system itself. This conversation covers: Why growth creates more opportunities for quality and information to slip between the cracks Why experience should improve the questions and create a better process How a seemingly simple repair revealed the importance of deeper verification Why sustainable speed comes from removing friction rather than discipline How communication supports operational control and customer trust Why technical knowledge has to become transferable as an organization expands How experienced technicians can help develop the next generation Why willingness to learn matters at every stage of an aviation career How culture helps people protect the standard when something does not look right About the Guest Rob Lastra is co-founder and Accountable Manager of LF Avionics, a family-owned aviation repair business based in Miami. Rob entered aviation through purchasing and customer-facing roles, while his father brought a technical maintenance background to the business. Together, they launched LF Avionics from a small facility and have continued expanding the company, its workforce, and its capabilities. About LF Avionics LF Avionics is a Part 145 repair station supporting avionics, accessories, electromechanical components, and an expanding range of aviation repair capabilities. The company has grown from an approximately 950-square-foot startup to an operation with more than 30 employees and approximately 20,000 square feet of combined space, while continuing to invest in new equipment and capabilities. 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.

July 31, 202622 min

EP 93: Growth Requires Standards in Aviation with Christpher Vera

Growth is exciting, but in aviation, growth without standards can create problems faster than it creates opportunity. You can add customers, capabilities, people, and volume. But lasting growth requires the right foundation. Quality, communication, tooling, training, inspection, processes, and attention to detail must grow alongside the business. In this episode of Nose to Tail, Patrick Kraus sits down with Christopher Vera of Elevated Resources Aviation (ERA) to explore what it takes to build an aviation repair operation from the ground up. They discuss why ERA began with hydraulic, pneumatic, and airframe capabilities, how customer needs influence capability development, and why a young MRO must be honest about what it can deliver. The conversation also looks at the standards behind the work. Christopher explains why quality can be measured in everything from the completed repair to the condition of the shipping box, and why earning trust with the small details creates opportunities for larger projects. We also explore how military experience, technical knowledge, mentorship, supply chain challenges, facility planning, and emerging technology are shaping the company ERA is working to become. 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.

July 17, 202633 min

EP 92: The Safety Equipment We Hope We Never Use with Matt Salamone

There are parts of aviation safety we hope we never have to think about. Emergency slides. Oxygen systems. Fire bottles. Life rafts. Helicopter floats. But when something goes wrong, the equipment behind those systems has to be ready. In this episode of Nose to Tail, Patrick Kraus is joined by Matt Salamone of HRD Aero Systems to talk about the safety equipment most passengers never see, why readiness is a continuously moving target, and what it takes to protect quality in a safety-critical repair environment. We discuss how HRD approaches emergency equipment maintenance, how CMM discipline, technician judgment, and team culture work together, and why teams need the freedom to take a pause, ask questions, and get the answer right. This conversation is about aircraft safety equipment, but the lessons apply more broadly across aviation, MRO, and any operation where reliability depends on the work people do long before the moment of need. In this episode, we cover: How safety-critical equipment creates confidence precisely because passengers rarely have to think about it Why readiness depends on inspection cycles, storage conditions, documentation, forecasting, and quality control How shortcuts can trade long-term reliability for short-term convenience Why CMM discipline still depends on judgment, humility, and a culture where people can ask questions How small maintenance decisions can prevent larger reliability problems later How supply-chain forecasting, lead-time variability, safety stock, and cash-flow pressure affect readiness How AI tools can help technicians access approved maintenance information faster Why technology in a compliance-heavy environment needs discernment, guardrails, and secure data practices How PMA and manufacturing capability can help turn supply-chain constraints into approved options What aviation leaders can learn from HRD’s approach to clarity, cohesion, vulnerability, and family-business values 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.

June 26, 202637 min

EP 91: The Value of Customer Trust & Focused Capability in Component Repair with Mike Jones

Focused component repair shops can bring a different kind of advantage to the MRO market: agility, responsiveness, and a closer connection to the customer’s real-world pressure. In this episode of Nose to Tail, Patrick Kraus sits down with Mike Jones of AeroStar for a practical conversation about component repair, customer communication, quality, and test capability. We look at the values that really matter in choosing the right repair partner: clear communication, honest expectations, responsiveness under changing conditions, and the ability to protect your customer’s reputation when the work leaves your hands. When the market is tight, that kind of partnership matters. Delayed piece parts, changing OEM requirements, turn-time pressure, labor constraints, and urgent customer needs all create friction. Strong repair partners help reduce that uncertainty by staying visible, honest, and engaged throughout the repair cycle. We also explore how focused shops can build capability around changing market needs, why the aftermarket is often at its best when it can move with agility, and why technology can improve systems without replacing the judgment, personality, and trust that build lasting customer relationships. 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.

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.

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