Back Shop Change Agent: Clark Stewart, CEO, Butler National

Butler National is based in Olathe, Kansas and its Aerospace division includes custom aircraft PMA solutions, aircraft and aircraft parts certification services, the manufacture of switching equipment for Boeing aircraft, fuel tank protection devices for aircraft, and structural modifications to business and commercial aircraft.

Butler staffs design and certification engineers, including FAA DERs to provide cost-effective solutions to air transport and business aviation markets. Butler also provides certification engineering services for assistance with FAA approvals.

Avcon Industries, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Butler National Corporation, offers modification of customer and company owned business-size aircraft from passenger to freighter configuration, addition of aerial photography capability, and stability enhancing modifications for Learjet, Beechcraft, Cessna, and Dassault Falcon aircraft along with other specialized modifications.

We spoke to Clark Stewart, CEO of Butler National, to discuss their business model for the aviation community.

AM: Can you give us an overview of your service and your unique offering to the aviation maintenance community?

Clark Stewart: Avcon is a full-service aircraft modification and FAA and EASA certified repair station that employs an experienced and specialized team to quickly and safely satisfy aviation and special mission requirements. Our most recent solution is a RVSM package for the Learjet 20 Series and 30 Series airplanes. Unique and challenging Avcon projects range from special mission, customer radome installation, certification, and installation of various configurations of exterior pods on otherwise common business jets. We appreciate challenges in developing custom special mission solutions and exceeding customer expectations. What makes us unique is our ability to provide not only maintenance but also custom aircraft modifications.

What is the trend in aviation maintenance from your perspective?

While the trend in the larger maintenance facilities appears to be outsourcing, we believe in doing as much as possible internally to satisfy customer needs. We feel that extensive outsourcing of any kind tends to alienate the customers, delay turnarounds, and increases work necessary to ensure quality. For example, we offer fast turn-around times on custom maintenance or modification requests, we require quality and we emphasize our customer friendly experience. By keeping work internal, you will likely talk to a person actually working on and familiar with your airplane.

What are the important issues or facts that any aviation maintenance manager must be well aware of with regard to today’s aviation maintenance industry?

First and foremost is employing the most competent people. We know that without qualified people, quality work cannot occur. Second, and just as important, is to maintain a relationship with the customer that we consider almost a partnership. Third, be involved with industry activities and personally know your vendors, competitors and others performing aviation-related work. The aviation world is small.

We believe there is no substitute for quality. The best way to build quality into an organization is to employ high-quality and quality-conscious people.

The values we look for in people are honesty, loyalty, strong work ethic and well-defined skills. We encourage our employees to continually improve themselves through continuing education. Additionally we believe that if our employees continue to learn new tasks on the job they will be happier and more productive.

What are the biggest misconceptions by management or employees regarding outsourcing the maintenance function in the commercial aviation industry?

I believe the biggest misconception is in regards to safety. Many maintenance vendors utilize a few certified mechanics, while the bulk of the employees are not. We believe that stringent background checks and properly trained employees reduce that risk, thus putting safety as a top priority. Another misconception is in regards to cost-savings. Any miscommunication will generally end in expensive cost issues and delays in aircraft delivery. However, a specialized outsouce vendor can provide expertise and efficiency. Also, if the proper quality inspections and procedures are followed, as well as background investigation into the vendor, any security risks should be minimized.

Can you comment on the savings in outsourcing and where, how, and why these savings come about?

Outsourcing can provide both cost and schedule savings if the outsourcing is completed by vendors having the same quality standards. This can allow additional work to be provided within the same timeframe.