Avionics News September 2014 - 49

Growing up, Kubick enjoyed fixing things, especially
the troubleshooting aspect. "I was always working on
my own vehicles, but I got interested in aviation for no
particular reason - I just always loved airplanes," he
said. "I started reading about them and fell in love."
An aptitude test in high school, along with a
recruiter, convinced him to go to the Spartan College
of Aeronautics and Technology for two years where
he earned an airframe and powerplant certificate with
inspection authorization rating.
He didn't earn a degree, he
said, "Because I was too stupid
and too young to realize I
should stay in school. I wanted
to work."
Back in 1993, aviation was
in a slump, and he had a hard
time finding a job. While at
Spartan, he had a job loading
UPS airplanes in Tulsa, just so
he could be around airplanes.
His first job was in Indianapolis for Evergreen, which,
at the time, had a ground-handling contract with the
United States Postal Service. His next job was with
an airline - an ancestor of America West, then owned
by Mesa. "At that point, I had gotten married, starting
having kids, and I wanted to raise my family in the
Upper Peninsula," he said.
Then came a series of aviation jobs for different
contractors and companies that would last some time,
but would eventually go belly up.
"I realized I needed to leave here or dig in," Kubick
said. "I dug in with the help of a friend and opened my
own business in a hangar with no heat, no insulation, no
bathroom and floodlights for light."
That was September 2002 and the launch of Kubick
Aviation. Two years later, Kubick Aviation Services
became an incorporated business.
Kubick began building his business in earnest. He
bought a new building in 2006, continued to expand the

business and add different services, all the while holding a
second job as director of maintenance for a cargo outfit. In
2007, Kubick bought out a previous employer who closed
the doors. In 2008, Kubick Aviation Services partnered
with an Appleton, Wisconsin-based company and added
airplane charter services to the business mix. Most
recently, Kubick expanded the business by purchasing his
largest competitor.
"It took 14 months to make that deal," Kubick said.
"I bought all the assets, the
licenses and the fuel farm."
Today, Kubick Aviation
has 13 employees in services
such as aircraft management,
maintenance, avionics
installation, aircraft sales,
aircraft rental, flight training,
fueling and charter services.
The company is now the only
fixed base operator on the field.
"I have every intention to
grow my company aggressively to become regionally
established," Kubick said. "We're 200 miles from
Canada, and there's only so much aviation that happens
up here. So we will grow the company to niche
ourselves into different markets."
One area of growth is the avionics department.
"I have a phenomenal tech in Jeff Rebera who I
have known for 20 years," Kubick said. "He is one
hell of a troubleshooter and installer. He works well
with customers; he takes care of them and helps them
understand what they bought and how to use it."
Part of that growth was joining the Aircraft
Electronics Association.
"It's something Jeff wanted," Kubick said. "Being an
AEA member is a good tool to help grow this avionics
department. The AEA is a resource for us. In fact, our
sales rep from Garmin recommended we join - to get
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Avionics News September 2014

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