Nose to Tail by Jet Midwest

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 rea...

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 Presi...

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 docume...

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 exp...

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...

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 reac...

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 o...

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 & Managin...

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...

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 technic...

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...

In this episode of Nose to Tail, host Patrick Kraus, Managing Director and COO at Jet Midwest, speaks with Bill Wilson, Retired Airline Pilot Captain, about his path through military and commercial aviation. Bill reflects on entering aviation through ROTC, flying the KC 135 with the US Air Force, and his time at American Airlines. The conversation explores differences between military and airline...

Join host Patrick Kraus, Managing Director and COO at Jet Midwest, and his guest Mark Robinson, Group President at Jet Midwest, as they dive into the intricacies of aviation lifecycle solutions, market, shares, and more. In this episode, they discuss the impact of real estate investments on aviation, and the evolving strategies of major players like Airbus and Boeing. Mark touches on how the indus...

In this episode of Nose to Tail, host Patrick Kraus, Managing Director and COO of Jet Midwest, engages in an insightful conversation with Reinaldo Barroso, Managing Partner from Lift Aerospace. They discuss Reinaldo’s journey from high school to co-founding Lift, the challenges of starting an aviation business, and the strategic approach to part sourcing. Reinaldo shares his experiences and succes...

In this episode of Nose to Tail, host Patrick Kraus, COO at Jet Midwest, interviews Dianna Bennett, a former TWA flight attendant and author of 'Jump Seat: Jet Setting in the Seventies'. They discuss Diana's unexpected journey into aviation, the rigorous flight attendant training program, and the evolution of airline service from the 1970s to now. Diana shares riveting stories from her career, inc...

Join host Patrick Kraus, COO of Jet Midwest, for a conversation with Jim Krey, General Manager, and Andrea Hannam, Sales Director, from Aero Instruments & Avionics Inc. as they share perspectives from across the aviation lifecycle. In this episode, they reflect on the company’s history, their approach to developing test equipment, and the experiences that have shaped their work in avionics. They a...

Join host Patrick Kraus, COO and Managing Director at Jet Midwest, as he connects with Ralph Merhi, CEO of ERP.aero, to discuss technology’s evolving role across aviation lifecycle solutions. From his journey into aviation technology to the development of ERP.aero’s integrated management platform, Ralph shares insights on data, connectivity, and how tools like AI and blockchain are influencing the...

This is a continued episode of Nose to Tail. Host Patrick Kraus, Managing Director and COO at Jet Midwest, welcomes back Josh Wilson, VP of Business Development at Wyatt Aerospace and EARP Aviation Repairs, for the next part of their discussion on aviation lifecycle solutions. Together, they reflect on unique repair projects, the story behind the Whale Tail Sales initiative that took shape during...

Join host Patrick Kraus, Managing Director and COO at Jet Midwest, as he talks with Josh Wilson, Vice President of Business Development at Wyatt Aerospace and EARP Aviation Repairs, about technology, growth, and evolving opportunities in aviation. In this episode, they discuss Josh’s start in the industry, the shift from microfiche to digital data management, and the creation of EARP Aviation Repa...

In this episode of Nose to Tail, host Patrick Kraus, Managing Director & COO of Jet Midwest, converses with David Romaris, Operations Manager from AvGen Aerospace, about challenges faced as an entrepreneur, strategies for building a highly effective operations team, and the importance of mentorship and continuous improvement. David also shares what it’s like collaborating with his twin brother in...

In this episode of Nose to Tail, host Patrick Kraus, Managing Director & COO of Jet Midwest, and guest Daniel Romaris, VP and Director of Business Development of AvGen Aerospace, discuss AvGen Aerospace's strategic growth plans, the challenges of managing large airline contracts, and their focus on pneumatics for narrow-body aircraft. Be sure to like, follow, and subscribe to stay updated with our...

In this episode of the Nose to Tail podcast, host Patrick Kraus, Managing Director & COO of Jet Midwest, is joined by Daniel Romaris, VP & Director of Business Development at AvGen Aerospace, to discuss aviation lifecycle solutions. Together, they discuss Danny's career journey from a technical school graduate to a role in customer service and sales, the impact of reliability on the aviation indus...

In this episode of Nose to Tail, host Patrick Kraus, Managing Director and COO at Jet Midwest, and his guest, Manuel Losada, MRO Vice President at Fortek Aerospace, explore the creation and optimization of in-house test equipment for aviation. The discussion covers the balance between custom-built and off-the-shelf equipment, the time-consuming process of establishing FAA equivalences, and insight...

In this episode of Nose to Tail, hosted by Patrick Kraus, Managing Director and COO of Jet Midwest, we meet Manuel Losada, MRO Vice President at Fortek Aerospace, as they discuss avionics and electromechanical repairs. Manny shares his invaluable expertise on the innovative field of digital communications engineering and the unique challenges posed by legacy technology. He also emphasizes the cruc...

Join host Patrick Kraus, Managing Director and COO at Jet Midwest, as he speaks with Michael Jaramillo, Managing Partner at LIFT Aerospace/LIFT MRO. Together, they will discuss strategic planning for aviation lifecycle solutions, focusing on facility consolidation, upcoming tear-down projects, and parts expansion. This conversation will uncover the challenges and opportunities within the industry,...