Helicopter cargo hook equipment provider Onboard Systems International has welcomed Pablo Bravo as vice president of engineering. Most recently with DART Aerospace, Bravo brings 18 years of industry experience as a technical and strategic leader and holds a designation from the FAA as an Engineering Representative for Structures and Mechanical Systems and Equipment in Part 27/29, making him intimately familiar with the certification process as well as the importance of product safety in the rotorcraft industry.

“As an engineer, you are always drawn to intricate machines and how they work, and in aerospace we are constantly challenged to produce a part that is both lightweight and strong at the same time," says Bravo. "Onboard's product offerings push both of those buttons for me, and I've always admired how its hooks exist at the junction between clockwork-like complexity, lightweight minimalism and thoughtful function. However, you can't produce great products without having great people, and it's clear that there is plenty of passion and pride that pervades the daily actions of my new teammates. I'm excited to be part of a team that cares deeply about the entire process and strives to be product-centric without compromising the customer experience. I feel that I'm joining at the cusp of exponential growth, and I'm ecstatic to bring my previous experience to help bring the company to the next level.”

After graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University, Bravo started his career as a project engineer with Apical Industries, quickly being promoted into leadership roles with increased responsibility. After Apical was absorbed into DART Aerospace, he was exposed to a wide spectrum of mission equipment for helicopter and fixed wing aircraft, and led a dynamic, multi-site organisation responsible for the design and development of emergency floats, air conditioning systems, landing gear, composite structures, aerial firefighting and external cargo equipment.

“When a company grows quickly, the growth tends to strain the organisation as people are asked to wear multiple hats and responsibilities increase,” adds Bravo. “My goal is to make the experience as sustainable as possible. I'd like to do this by developing my team and preparing them for growth. Onboard already has great processes and structure in place, and I can add value by optimising these processes to the mutual benefit of the team and our customers. Additionally, I want to instill a culture of innovation. The current designs are impressive, and there is always room for continuous improvement. As Onboard grows, I want to leverage new tools in the organisation to level up the ability of the team to output the next generation of cargo hook design.”