October_2021 - 24

Miguel Angel del Rosario, 28, Repair Station Manager, STS Aviation Group, and GRR and UH60 Blackhawk Repair Technician, U.S. Army Michigan National Guard, Grand Rapids, MI
del Rosario obtained a Bachelor of Science
A
viation wasn't the first choice for Miguel Angel del Rosario.
Initially, del Rosario considered working in the automotive industry
as a professional high-performance auto tech, but then he was
presented with an opportunity to explore the Aviation Maintenance
Program at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
After a brief introduction to aviation maintenance by Scott
Warner, who was an aviation student recruitment and outreach
officer for Western Michigan University, del Rosario said he was
sold. " Aviation is a highly technical field that constantly pushes
the boundaries of what's possible, as well as how versatile the job
market is after training and licensing is completed, " he said. " It's
everything any professional should consider upon enrolling in any
field. Aviation has provided me with a handsome living and some
of my closest peers today. "
In 2020, del Rosario became an FAA Part 145 & EASA 145
repair station manager for STS Aviation Group at Grand Rapids
International Airport. A year after, he joined the U.S. Army National
Guard, where he is a 15T UH60 helicopter technician.
Advanced training he has received has included Level I & II
Advanced Systems for airframes, such as CRJ200/700/900, MD80,
A319/320/321, B717/737/757, EMB145/175, GenFam in Challenger
300/350, Gulfstream III, IV, V, numerous single- and multi-engine
piston-powered aircraft, as well as Turboprop + Run-Taxi.
Matthew Geczi, 37, Flight Mechanic, Pentastar Aviation, Lake Orion, MI
W
hen Matthew Geczi was 9 years old, he took a flight out to
New York, and ever since he has simply loved airplanes. After
being a seasonal employee for about three years in his early 20s,
he decided to go to A&P school.
Geczi started off working in freight on Convair 580 & 5800, Falcon
20s and Boeing 727. He worked in that part of the industry for
about three and a half years. " I made the jump to corporate aviation
part-time while I worked in freight until I was hired full-time
at Pentastar, " he said. " Currently, I work on a private contract as a
flight mechanic and help maintain three Gulfstream G550s and a
Cessna Citation 680 Sovereign. "
Geczi received his training from the Michigan Institute of
Aviation & Technology and also has completed additional training
on Gulfstream GV to G550 maintenance differences; Gulfstream
G550 engine run-up and taxi; Gulfstream G550 advanced troubleshooting;
Gulfstream GV maintenance initial/engine run-up and
taxi; Citation Sovereign 680 avionics initial and Falcon 2000ex EASy
(PWC PW308) maintenance initial.
As for future goals, Geczi says he would like to manage a small
fleet of aircraft like the ones he currently helps maintain. " I would
like to be in some sort of management position, " he explained. " If I
cannot manage a small fleet, I would like to
become a director of maintenance or maintenance
manager at an FBO. "
John Maxfield, who nominated Geczi and
a pilot with Pentastar Aviation, said that in
addition to his duties at home base, Geczi
also travels with the Gulfstreams whenever
they fly, interacting with the three or more
other crewmembers to become one cohesive
flight crew. " Something he does gladly, while leaving a family of
five behind at home with a very understanding wife, I'm certain, "
noted Maxfield. " Being aboard the plane with Fortune 100 passengers
requires intelligence, personality, tact and discretion. Matt
is truly a professional and balances all these traits well, so much
so, that when he is part of my crew, I consider the aircraft as 'his'
and I merely fly it; he makes life at work that easy. Without fail,
Matt is there to assist us and competently goes to work analyzing,
troubleshooting and rectifying whatever maintenance issue may
arise. Whether inflight or on the ground in a remote location,
Matt stays with the task at hand to its completion, sacrificing
self comfort for team success. "
in Aircraft Maintenance Technology, with a
minor in sales and marketing, in 2017. He had
two internships: one at Orange County Flight
Center in California, as an assistant technician
and marketing specialist, and another at
Western Michigan University, as an apprentice
AMT. In 2014, he founded PistonFly LLC,
an aviation business marketing and consulting
firm, out of his dorm. Today it is in Grand Rapids.
He currently volunteers with the Plainwell Aviation & STEM
Academy at Plainwell Municipal Airport as the marketing and technology
advisor, and he donates his time for aircraft maintenancerelated
matters. In recent years, he and his wife have donated to
the Western Michigan University Air Race Classic team to help
promote women in aviation.
Dan DeVillers, a Parker Hannifin retiree, nominated him for this
year's 40 Under 40 award, saying, " Miguel is very dedicated. He
is a top-notch mechanic. His focus and dedication to everything
aviation should be rewarded. "
His industry memberships include the Aircraft Owners and Pilots
Association (AOPA), the National Business Aviation Association
(NBAA), and the Plainwell, Michigan, EAA chapter.
24 OCTOBER 2021
AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY

October_2021

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