Keystone Aviation – an aircraft management and charter operator that was recently acquired by Elevate Holdings – is planning an expansion of its MRO capabilities, along with the relocation of its administrative offices.
The effort by Keystone Aviation to grow its operations and enhance its facilities is supported by the recent acquisition by Elevate Holdings. The company provided an injection of resources and organisational expertise to fuel expansion and has earmarked additional capital to invest in Keystone Aviation’s MRO chain.
“Together, Elevate Holdings and Keystone Aviation are focused on growing our executive fleet nationwide and developing a robust customer-centric aircraft maintenance organisation,” said Greg Raiff, CEO of Elevate Holdings. “The next six to 12 months will set the stage for long-term, sustainable growth while increasing our current ability to deliver maximum value to our customers.”
Organisational changes will accompany the MRO expansion initiative. Jim Slack, senior vice president of maintenance strategy for Elevate Holdings, will become president of a designated new MRO entity and manage Keystone’s Part 145 repair stations in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Scottsdale, Arizona. Slack has 35 years of aircraft maintenance experience with an emphasis on repair station development and operations.
Bill Hoddenbach, vice president of aircraft maintenance, will continue as Keystone’s Part 135 director of maintenance, with Jimmy Ray remaining as the chief inspector. Keystone Aviation’s Part 135 certificate will be managed and operated independently by Keystone president Aaron Fish.
“We intend to spearhead growth through excellence in maintenance and customer service, and these expansion plans are representative of that intent,” said Slack. “Elevate and Keystone share a commitment to quality, safety and customer service, and we believe these investments in our joint MRO capabilities are a pathway to success in a competitive marketplace.”
Beyond this current expansion, an additional MRO location has already been identified and will be funded by Elevate Holdings capital. Elevate Holdings became the fifteenth largest aircraft management business in the USA with its acquisition of Keystone Aviation in January 2022. It has made building up maintenance and repair organisational capabilities a cornerstone of its growth strategy.
“This transition positions us to compete more effectively in the US private aviation market,” said Slack. “We look forward to adding more capacity and creating better experiences for our customers.”
