Jeff Regier has joined the Duncan Aviation airframe service sales team as a Learjet service sales representative at the company's full service MRO in Lincoln, Nebraska. In this position, he will use his airframe technical experience and knowledge to assist Learjet operators in planning for airframe maintenance events, providing detailed technical quotes, answering their service and capability questions and scheduling in their maintenance visits.

Sales manager Troy Nail says: Jeff's demonstrated Learjet knowledge will continue to play a vital role supporting Learjet operators in this new capacity. We are excited about the future and thrilled to have Jeff as part of our sales team."

"I am excited to join the sales team and be able to continue to work with Learjet operators on a different level," adds Regier. "Because of my maintenance experience, I have a deep understanding of the work and am able to delve into inspection details. This will help me better understand the needs of our customers and effectively communicate with the technicians performing the work."

Regier earned his A&P licence and an Associates degree in aviation maintenance from Iowa Western. He is an instrument-rated private pilot. Regier joined Duncan Aviation in 2008 as an airframe technician where he acquired hands-on experience and advanced technical knowledge. His leadership skills were recognised and he was promoted to lead mechanic and eventually team leader in June 2018.

During a recent reception at the facility Leo Sawatzki, retired manager of engine acquisition and sales and a long time aircraft technician with the company, was honoured as a recipient of the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award; the award is named in honour of the first aviation mechanic in powered flight. Taylor served as the Wright brothers' mechanic and is credited with designing and building the engine for their first successful aircraft. The award recognises the lifetime accomplishments of senior mechanics.

Award recipients are required to have worked for 50 years in an aviation maintenance career. They must have been an FAA-certificated mechanic or repairman working on N-registered aircraft maintained under the federal aviation regulations for a minimum of 30 of the 50 years required.

Sawatzki was awarded this recognition in 2020 but the pandemic delayed its presentation. It was finally presented by DOT/FAA FAASTeam programme manager Owen Grimm during a reception event.

Sawatzki has enjoyed a 50 year career in aviation, 32 of those dedicated to serving at Duncan Aviation. He began his aviation career after graduating from Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska and joined the US Navy during the Vietnam War.

“I had no idea what I wanted to do when I joined the Navy,” says Sawatzki, but that was until the age of 19 when he sat in the cockpit of an F4 Phantom and heard the roar of the engines for the very first time. “It was the most awesome thing I'd ever experienced; the power and smell of the engine burn. I've never lost the passion for jet engines.”

In 1973, he stepped off the Navy ship USS Constellation and signed on as a jet engine mechanic with Duncan Aviation in Lincoln. At that time there were nine mechanics in the entire company, and all of them did airframe work, engine work and even painted the aircraft. They worked on Learjets, Citations, King Airs, Barons and Bonanzas.

Over the years, Sawatzki was promoted to lead mechanic, service manager and supervisor when the first Duncan Aviation engine shop was opened.

“We wouldn't have an engine shop if it weren't for Leo,” says vice president of customer service Doug Alleman. “He initiated a letter writing campaign that resulted in our engine shop becoming established and authorised.”

Duncan Aviation chairman Todd Duncan expressed his appreciation for the experience and wisdom Sawatzki imparted during his tenure at Duncan Aviation: “We grew and flourished because of people like Leo and those who came before and after him.”