EP 90: Building Test Capability That Lasts with Todd Meredith

EP 90: Building Test Capability That Lasts with Todd Meredith

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 President at Testek Solutions, for a behind-the-scenes look at the test benches and test stands that support aerospace repair, production, and return-to-service decisions. Todd breaks down what test equipment actually does in real-world workflows, why “no fault found” is still an important result, how older aircraft create long-term support challenges, and why commercial off-the-shelf components can be critical when a system needs to last for decades. The conversation also explores the make-or-buy decision behind test capability: what happens when a custom system depends too heavily on one person, why documentation and support networks matter, and how teams can design test systems that survive upgrades instead of requiring full replacement. In this conversation, we cover: + What test benches and test stands actually do in aerospace repair and production + How testing supports return-to-service decisions, repeatable quality, and throughput + Why older aircraft and legacy technology create long-term sustainment challenges + Why commercial off-the-shelf components matter in long-life systems + The risk of custom-built systems without documentation, training, or support paths + How test benches can be maintained and upgraded instead of replaced + What more-electric aircraft, including the 787, may mean for future test capability Subscribe to Nose to Tail for more conversations with aviation leaders, operators, MRO partners, and aftermarket experts. Get ready for new episodes of our podcast every other Friday.  Learn more about our sponsor, Jet Midwest, at jetmidwest.com. Jet Midwest is a global, multifaceted aircraft service provider. Since 1997, it has specialized in providing exceptional value to the commercial aviation industry through complete nose-to-tail product support solutions for passenger and cargo aircraft.

EP 89: Work as Imagined vs Work as Done: Closing the Documentation Gap in Aviation with Brent Webb

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 documentation demands collide with older-platform limitations, and why provenance systems and stronger traceability are becoming a reliable path forward for trust in used material. In this episode, we cover: Why legacy fleets create a documentation gap under modern acceptance criteria What AOG reveals about ideal processes vs execution How teams stay compliant while still being adaptable and practical Why traceability/provenance systems reduce uncertainty over time Please like, subscribe, and follow along for more. Get ready for new episodes of our podcast every other Friday.  Learn more about our sponsor, Jet Midwest, at jetmidwest.com. Jet Midwest is a global, multifaceted aircraft service provider. Since 1997, it has specialized in providing exceptional value to the commercial aviation industry through complete nose-to-tail product support solutions for passenger and cargo aircraft.

EP 88: How Smart Asset Buyers Think | Asset Decisions in a Tighter Aftermarket with Bill Thompson

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 expectations, scrap yield), staying true to your model when you’re tempted to stretch, and knowing when free is actually expensive. In this episode, Patrick Kraus sits down with Bill Thompson of EirTrade Aviation to explore how experienced buyers think under pressure, and what habits keep decision quality high when the market gets tight. In this conversation, we cover: Why the market feels tighter: more bidders, higher prices, fewer inside-track deals Granular modeling: repair cost, resale, and yield reality produces valuation discipline Why you don’t bend your model to win a deal (accept lower margin or walk away) Rebuild vs part-out logic: how exit strategies shift with market conditions Why free assets can still be losses (hidden costs + system burden) Get ready for new episodes of our podcast every other Friday.  Learn more about our sponsor, Jet Midwest, at jetmidwest.com. Jet Midwest is a global, multifaceted aircraft service provider. Since 1997, it has specialized in providing exceptional value to the commercial aviation industry through complete nose-to-tail product support solutions for passenger and cargo aircraft.

EP 87: Availability Is a System | Building a One-Stop Shop in MRO with Sami Maalouf

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 workload and the unexpected problems. The difference is whether your operation can handle both without slowing down. In this episode, Sami Maalouf explains how Etihad Engineering builds that kind of one-stop shop model: integrated hangar capability, back shops and component support, engineering (Part 21), training (Part 147), and logistics positioned to support global operators. And while structure creates speed, transparency reduces second-guessing. And second-guessing costs time. In MRO, trust and clarity often determine how quickly work moves forward. In this conversation, we cover: - What a one-stop shop really means and how it reduces friction - Logistics as a competitive advantage (free zone + freighters on site) - How Part 21 engineering support and Part 147 training strengthen execution - Why OEM partnerships expand repair pathways and credibility - Why trust, transparency, and flexibility still matter at the end of the day Get ready for new episodes of our podcast every other Friday.  Learn more about our sponsor, Jet Midwest, at jetmidwest.com. Jet Midwest is a global, multifaceted aircraft service provider. Since 1997, it has specialized in providing exceptional value to the commercial aviation industry through complete nose-to-tail product support solutions for passenger and cargo aircraft.

EP 86: Hope, One Step at a Time: The Tartan Trek Across America with Craig Ferguson

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 reaches people before it’s too late. Today, Craig is walking 3,000 miles from Los Angeles to Boston in his kilt to raise awareness and funding for SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health). This trek is a tribute, a fundraiser, and a reminder. Support exists. Asking for help is strength. And none of us are meant to carry this alone. And this week, Jet Midwest was given the opportunity to walk alongside him. We wanted to use our Nose to Tail platform and resources to give Craig additional support on his journey, and to help more people discover the cause behind the miles. In this episode, we check in with Craig at the halfway mark as he walks through Kansas City, and hear what keeps him moving - physically, mentally, and emotionally. It’s not about pushing through alone. It’s about moving forward with help. If you’re struggling, we hope Craig’s journey opens a pathway to find support. If you’re moved by his mission, we ask that you walk with him — and help him reach more people. Ways you can help To donate: thetartantrek.co.uk To follow Craig’s journey: Instagram: CraigFerguson_one (links are in his bio) (If this resonates, share it with someone. And check in on someone.) In this conversation, we cover: - Why Craig started walking for mental health, and the story behind Russell - What it’s like to keep going day after day, and keeping your mind steady - The route so far and reaching Kansas City at the halfway mark - Craig’s fundraising progress and how to donate / support - Craig’s closing message to listeners: donate, follow, and get behind the cause  Please like, follow, and subscribe. Get ready for new episodes of our podcast every other Friday.  Learn more about our sponsor, Jet Midwest, at jetmidwest.com. Jet Midwest is a global, multifaceted aircraft service provider. Since 1997, it has specialized in providing exceptional value to the commercial aviation industry through complete nose-to-tail product support solutions for passenger and cargo aircraft.