October_2021 - 14

Lucas Oyen, 27, Base AMT, Metro Aviation/UW Med Flight, Madison, WI
W
ithin the air ambulance community, there's no better qualified
candidate for this year's 40 Under 40 award than Lucas Oyen
of Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, according to lead AMT Matthew
Oliver with Metro Aviation/UW Med Flight.
From 2012 to 2017, Oyen enlisted in the United States Marine
Corps. Working as an aircraft mechanic on CH-53E helicopters, he
deployed to Afghanistan and completed a ship-based deployment
in the Middle East.
As a civilian, his first experience in the aviation industry was
working for REACH Air Medical Services (2017-2019). He worked
in the heavy maintenance hangar performing component replacements
and inspections on EMS aircraft.
Since 2019, he has been working for Metro Aviation, as a field
base mechanic providing service to the University of WisconsinMadison
(Med Flight). His duties include scheduled and unscheduled
maintenance, airworthy compliance and logistics management
on program aircraft - EC135 and EC145 platforms.
While he's been with the program, Oliver said Oyen has made a
tremendous impact. " His knowledge of not only helicopter maintenance,
but that of the 'big picture' world of HEMS is unmatched
- especially for a young man of his age, " Oliver said. " Lucas can see
a need or discrepancy and quickly develop/implement a corrective
action in a safe and orderly fashion. "
Caleb Curtis, 37, Owner/A&P IA Mechanic, Curtis Air, Inc., Pittsfield, ME
I
n the heart of Maine, Caleb Curtis owns and operates Curtis Air
Inc. The family business is an aviation maintenance business,
as well as the FBO at Pittsfield Municipal Airport. Curtis has been
operating the business since 2003. His father (Ronald Curtis), an
A&P mechanic, started the company in 1998. " I had worked with
my father a lot growing up and knew aviation was what I wanted
to do, " he said, adding that he started doing small jobs starting at
the young age of 12.
At age 18, he found himself in charge of all aspects of the business.
He had just finished his first year of college when his father died in
a plane crash. While working full time, Curtis finished college and
earned a business degree, and obtained his A&P and IA licenses.
He received his training from Bakers School of Aeronautics and
American Bonanza Society.
Early on, his family and a board consisting of local business
people guided him on how get through those challenging times.
His mentors include his father, long-time friend and employee Fred
Delano and close friends and advisers Mark Cochrane, Charlie
Cianchette and Frank Woodworth. " There are too many to list, "
he said, then added his mentors also include Keith Strange and
Terry Beal, mechanics who do not work with him. " I am quick to
call and ask advice, and I am blessed to have so many contacts
who will field my calls. "
Klaus Thalinger, owner of Good Winds LLC in Maine, nominated
14 OCTOBER 2021
Curtis for this year's 40 Under 40 award.
" Caleb (his mum, Faith, and wife, Laura)
have since expanded the business and hired
two full-time A&P mechanics, a paint technician
and a general manager, " Thalinger said.
Altogether, Curtis Air has seven full-time and
three part-time employees.
In addition to serving the general aviation
community, Curtis Air serves a niche market:
seaplanes. " You can land your seaplane in the river and Curtis Air
will meet you at water's edge to pull out your seaplane for repairs or
change the floats to wheels or skis, " Thalinger described. Whether
it was late at night on an icy ramp or towing an aircraft from the
hangar to the fuel farm, Thalinger said he cannot remember a time
when Curtis would not fulfill a fuel request.
Curtis' industry association memberships include AEA, American
Bonanza Society - lifetime membership, Beech Heritage Museum -
lifetime membership, EAA - lifetime membership, AOPA, Seaplane
Pilots Association and the local EAA chapter. Participating in the
EAA Young Eagles program, Curtis gives youth ages 8 to 17 their
first airplane ride.
According to Thalinger, the Curtis family lives in a home next
to the Pittsfield Airport - " This just shows how much passion the
Curtis family has for aviation. "
AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY
According to Oliver, Oyen is highly regarded
and respected within the maintenance
community and by the Med Flight crewmembers.
He's become a go-to person for all
things HEMS-related. Oliver lists qualities of
a true leader: respect, humility, commitment,
dedication, honesty, integrity, empathy, transparency,
hard work and resiliency - and said
Oyen possesses all of them.
Oyen said it all started when his father introduced him to welding:
" I was immediately hooked on all things mechanical and was right
at home working in his repair shop. " With close family members
in general aviation, he was exposed to " the flying side of things. "
" When I was a youngster, I thought flying airplanes were the
coolest thing in the world and wanted to get my own license or be
like any young kid and become a fighter pilot in the military. " In
the Marine Corps, he chose aircraft mechanic as his occupational
specialty so he could continue working with his hands.
Whether he's working in military or civilian aviation, he said, " I
continually strive to reach common goals and maintain a mindset
centered around doing my personal best - with heavy emphasis
towards providing a safe and reliable aircraft, so when called upon,
myself and my fellow teammates can help when and where needed. "
October_2021

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