The Vertical MRO Podcast

The Vertical MRO Podcast

Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, where we explore the fascinating world of helicopter maintenance, repair, and overhaul. Our episodes feature MRO experts who share invaluable tribal knowledge and stories that are sure to inspire current and aspiring industry maintainers.

Episodes

October 14, 2025 69 mins

Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Magazine.

In this two-part Vertical MRO Podcast series, Jon Gray sits down with Zina Hullings, management analyst at the Ontario (California) Police Department Air Support Unit; and Eric Weidner, who was Ontario PD Air Support commander before retiring in 2016.

Zina is recipient of the prestigious Blades of Valo...

Mark as Played

Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Magazine.

In this two-part Vertical MRO Podcast series, Jon Gray sits down with Zina Hullings, management analyst at the Ontario (California) Police Department Air Support Unit; and Eric Weidner, who was Ontario PD Air Support commander before retiring in 2016.

Zina is recipient of the prestigious Blades of Valo...

Mark as Played

Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Magazine.

In this episode of the Vertical MRO Podcast, host Jon Gray speaks with Adam Garcia, a helicopter maintenance professional whose career spans nearly five decades. 

Adam’s aviation journey began with a life-saving helicopter ride in his youth and carried him through a long and distinguished career in both military and publi...

Mark as Played

Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Magazine.

In this episode of the Vertical MRO Podcast, host Jon Gray speaks with Adam Garcia, a helicopter maintenance professional whose career spans nearly five decades. 

Adam’s aviation journey began with a life-saving helicopter ride in his youth and carried him through a long and distinguished career in both military and publi...

Mark as Played

Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Magazine.

In this episode, hosts Jon Gray and David Kreutzkamp sit down with MHM Publishing co-founder and co-publisher Linda Reyno, and Leslie Ferry, MHM Publishing’s event director, to give exciting updates on the Vertical MRO Conferences. These events are right around the corner, being held in Kelowna, British Columbia, at the ...

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Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Magazine.

In this episode of the Vertical MRO Podcast, host Jon Gray and co-host Leslie Ferry sit down with James Simmons, founder of Avolatus and a seasoned aviation professional. 

We explore his career journey in aviation and gather his insights into the rotorcraft maintenance industry. 

James shares his experiences from his mi...

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Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Magazine.

In this episode of the Vertical MRO Podcast, host Jon Gray and co-host Leslie Ferry sit down with James Simmons, founder of Avolatus and a seasoned aviation professional. 

We explore his career journey in aviation and gather his insights into the rotorcraft maintenance industry. 

James shares his experiences from his mi...

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Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Magazine.

In this two part series of the Vertical MRO Podcast, hosts Jon Gray and Ronnie Ries have a discussion with Jon Dillenberg, director at the Thrust Institute of Maintenance.

During this conversation, we dive into the critical challenges and exciting opportunities in recruiting and shaping the next gen...

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Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Magazine.

In this two part series of the Vertical MRO Podcast, hosts Jon Gray and Ronnie Ries have a discussion with Jon Dillenberg, director at the Thrust Institute of Maintenance.

During this conversation, we dive into the critical challenges and exciting opportunities in recruiting and shaping the next gen...

Mark as Played

Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Magazine.

In this episode of the Vertical MRO Podcast, host Jon Gray and co-host Howie Murray, sit down with Milton Geltz, managing director of Metro Aviation, to reflect on his remarkable 50-year career in aviation.

Milton began his journey in 1976 and has been with Metro since 1983, overseeing daily operat...

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Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Magazine.

In this special episode of the Vertical MRO Podcast, host Jon Gray is joined by Romain Trapp, Executive Vice President of Customer Support and Services at Airbus Helicopters, for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, innovation, and the future of rotorcraft support.

Romain shares the personal journey that led h...

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Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Magazine.

In this episode of the Vertical MRO Podcast, host Jon Gray sits down with Seth Hardage, owner of Rotorcraft Repair and Manufacturing, to uncover the vital importance of preventative maintenance in aviation. Seth introduces their groundbreaking product, Dragon Skin Xtreme—an advanced rotor blade leading edge ...

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Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Magazine.

Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Magazine.

This two-part leadership series episode was recorded on location in Shreveport, Louisiana, at Metro Aviation. Hosts Jon Gray and Leslie Ferry sit down with Metro Aviation’s director of maintenance...

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Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Magazine.

This two-part leadership series episode was recorded on location in Shreveport, Louisiana, at Metro Aviation. Hosts Jon Gray and Leslie Ferry sit down with Metro Aviation’s director of maintenance Shawn Bruton and Emmy Award winner, author, and keynote speaker Clint Pulver.

During our conversation,...

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Welcome to another episode of Vertical MRO Tech Talk presented by Bell.

In this episode, Greg Judd and Greg Arnold take a deep dive into the critical and often complex world of track and balance in helicopter maintenance. With decades of hands-on experience between them, the duo unpacks the finer details of rotorcraft dynamics—from product balance techniques to hub weight adjustments, and the impact of center of gravity (...

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Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Magazine.

In this two-part series, Jon Gray sits down with James Helkey, director of maintenance and completions at Leonardo Helicopters.

James is a highly experienced aviation professional with a strong background in aircraft maintenance, leadership, and organizational development.

He holds an airf...

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Welcome to Vertical MRO Alerts, presented by Bell!

Bell 407 Tailboom Attachment Bolt New Airworthiness Limitation – Introduction Of.

In this episode, hosts Marc Dubé and Gilbert Gaudreault, technical experts on the Bell Product Support Engineering (PSE) Team, once again join together to share some further insights into recently a released Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) regarding the inspection of the attachment hard...

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Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Magazine.

In this two-part series, Jon Gray sits down with James Helkey, director of maintenance and completions at Leonardo Helicopters.

James is a highly experienced aviation professional with a strong background in aircraft maintenance, leadership, and organizational development.

He holds an airf...

Mark as Played

Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Magazine.

In this episode of the Vertical MRO Podcast, host Val Medved, co-host Faith Ortega, and guest Joseph LaCaze of Helicopter Work Aids take listeners on a journey through legacy, innovation, and the personal side of helicopter maintenance.

Joe shares how a childhood surrounded by aviation shaped his pa...

Mark as Played

Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Magazine.

In this episode of the Vertical MRO Podcast, host Val Medved, co-host Faith Ortega, and guest Joseph LaCaze take listeners on a journey through legacy, innovation, and the personal side of helicopter maintenance.

Joe shares how a childhood surrounded by aviation shaped his passion for the industry—a...

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