Recieves HAI Aviation Repair Specialist Award

Luis F. Garcia, Director of Maintenance, Papillon Airways Inc., Grand Canyon, Arizona, is the recipient of Helicopter Association International’s (HAI) 2004 Aviation Repair Specialist Award. This award will be presented February 7, 2005, at HELI-EXPO in Anaheim, California, during HAI’s 44th annual "Salute to Excellence" awards ceremony.

Garcia began his aviation career in 1988 when he joined the United States Army as a helicopter technician, working on the Bell AH-1E and the Apache Attack Helicopter. Luis left the service after returning from Saudi Arabia and Iraq, having served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

In 1992, he enrolled in Rice Aviation School of Aeronautics and Chandler Gilbert Community College. The following year, he became a member of Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters Maintenance Staff. Hungry for knowledge, he then began to learn every aspect of aircraft maintenance with the help of a Helicopter Association International scholarship and Papillon providing Bell Factory training.

His first assignment was as the Weekend Inspector/Supervisor, tasked to maintain 18 Bell Helicopters on very tight schedules. He became Lead Inspector, a position that provided him with the opportunity to mold better inspectors, improve productivity, and reduce company costs. He advanced to Chief Inspector, and chief counsel to the Director of Maintenance. In January of 1999, Garcia was awarded the Helicopter Association International’s Aviation Maintenance Technician Safety Award. In 2000, he was promoted to the position of Director of Maintenance. The models he maintains now include Eurocopter, MD900, and Bell Helicopters.

Papillon Airways operates a Part 135 helicopter service at the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, and at other multiple remote locations throughout the United States on government contract. Mr. Garcia manages Papillon’s Part 145 repair station and a mixed fleet of 35 helicopters that collectively fly over 27,000 hours per year. Despite the amount of hours flown in an unforgiving environment, often operating long distances away from home station, Luis and his team maintain better than a 95 percent operational readiness rate.

One of the most significant accomplishments that Garcia has made in his years of service to Papillon is the maintenance safety and training program, which promotes a corporate culture that encourages increased responsibility and accountability. Recognized expert in his field and respected by his peers throughout the industry, Garcia maintains a close working relationship with the FAA, Department of the Interior, US Forest Service, and the Department of Defense. His professionalism, leadership, and superior knowledge of aircraft maintenance and maintenance procedures are worthy of this award.

FMI: www.papillon.com