Birth of an Aircraft Maintenance Shop Wingfield Aviation - InTheHangar Ep 78

One Entrepreneur Aviator, when not getting the level of service for his aircraft that he desired, decided to hire some staff and create a new aircraft maintenance company that is as OCD as he is-- which is perfect for airplane mechanics. Meet John Wingfield of Wingfield Aviation and find out his story about why he created this new shop in North Texas.
In The Hangar is sponsored by Wingfield Aviation: wingfieldaviation.com/ Looking for a good A&P shop? Check out Wingfield in North Texas. They will take care of you.
Also-- check out Flying Eyes! Dan and Christy both swear by these sunglasses: flyingeyesoptics.com/

[@tracyfajette2122]

He said he works “with” his employees....rather than they work for him. That says it all!

[@fasteddy4929]

I got my A&P in 1974 worked on small AC for 43 of 45 years. When the 1st computer came into the shop I hadn't even taken typing in high school. I went and bought a typing learning program and sat at the computer during breaks and lunch learning the keyboard and the computer. I became the chief Inspector in the shop. I did our AD research on the computer just like he said. When a new AC came in the shop I would put in airframe make, model, SN, engine make, model, SN, propeller make, model, SN, appliances? Which ones are installed that may have ADs? That one can get you in trouble. A good equipment list helps a lot here. Documenting the work order on line as it is being done is an awesome idea. This sounds like the kind of shop I'de loved to have worked in. God bless!

[@christophermetcalf4720]

This is just the video I was looking for. I am considering opening a shop as well and this is exactly what I want my business to look like. I love what you guys do. Thanks for all you do for GA. Keep up the great work!

[@jackbrainassociates8806]

Sounds like a great shop, I’m only sorry its not in CA. It’s very refreshing to know I’m not the only aircraft owner that would like a shop to be transparent and make the deadlines they promised.

[@almarasco8088]

Dan this is one of the best interviews yet. Ran into the same issue with with mechanics that don’t know what they are doing and your plane is for them to learn. Looking into opening a shop that’s dedicated to quality work. I have been in business for 30 years. Our Mado is where quality service and installations makes a difference. People will pay more for quality.i sure will.

[@AllAmericanAviation]

Great Episdoe!

[@billnicholson2470]

Great episode! Man, John is a really smart forward thinking business man.

[@oscarrinc7025]

" Inspect what you expect " Genius John.

[@jtthill5475]

Really curious about the pre-buy service. If the airplane is in say Lubbock, does it need to be brought to their shop or will they go to the plane? Just staying in Texas might be the key or would they inspect with the continental US? Probably not cost effective to travel too far, but what would be the limit and/or cost? Love the show. One of the best so far. Thanks for sharing.

[@mmaviator22]

Idk where youre referring to but in florida A&P mechanics most definitely make more than auto mechanics. I have about 5 months left of A&P school and over the last year and change, the majority of my friends who have graduated without their A&P are getting employed on average at $30/hr and those with their A&P are getting on average $35/hr starting so basically 60k+ a year right out of school and that doesnt happen in the auto world. Atleast not the 10 years I spent working on cars and everyone else I know. That being said, getting your A&P is far harder than any auto tech school. Just the rules and regulations ie FAR's and all of that we have to learn in order to be legal, and legally know what we can and cannot do is a ton of info. To put it simply, to get your A&P there is 9 tests you have to take. The General written, oral, and practical, the Airframe written, oral, and practical, and the Powerplant written, oral and practical. Now this might not sound bad but think about it like this, A&P school is about 21 months on average, and the written tests alone for each Jeppesen manual have on average 600 to 800 questions that you will only be asked 60 on the written tests. That means you have to study almost 2k questions, just for the written, and then comes the oral, were basically the DME will ask questions from the same pool, and you have what I believe its 14 subjects, and they will ask you 7 questions per subject and you must get 5 out of 7 correct. Then you move on to the practical exams where you are physically in the hangar basically doing whatever they tell you to do, and its all projects youve done in school but alot of them you will have not studied for or done in over a year or more. Its a daunting task, and at my school, AIM, I would say I see about 10% of students graduate with their A&P. Doesnt mean some dont get it after, but in my experience maybe 1 or 2 per capstone class get their actually A&P. Its very hard, and the majority of people are not dedicated enough to put in the time to make it happen, that and the majority of students in my school still act like their in highschool which makes it rough for me as I am in my 30s and actually want to be there, but as I said, it takes alot of time and dedication to go the school route and it is worth it if you do get your a&p not just because you make more starting but bc youll end up progressing in your career unlike most of those without.

[@1shARyn3]

Hey Dan, your audio is quite abit lower than that from others' videos. Any possibility of increasing gain on your mic?

[@beovp91]

Is the software used by wing-field off the shelf?

[@SamMose]

You should have him on to talk about running off the end of the runway in FL.

[@johnwingfieldjr.5871]

Hey Sam, what would you like to know? For the record, I did not run off the end of the runway, but happy to dialogue with you if you'd like. Here is my email, and we can get in touch from there! [e-mail]

[@ferdberffle]

Betcha he had Brian Turner write his programming.

[@DirtNerds]

Impressive Ideas! Let me know if you need a coder or a beta tester!

[@rueterah]

What online portal is he using? That’s super interesting.

[@blakesides6558]

Quantum MX. There are several shops that use it. Us included.

[@SmittySmithsonite]

My last name is Smith. The struggle is real ... 😃