Welcome to The Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by Vertical Helicasts!


In this episode, Val Medved and Jon Gray get an opportunity to sit down with Maury Wood. 

In 1992, a move to St. Albert marked the start of new adventures for Wood and his family. From there, it was a whirlwind of after-school work at Avialta Helicopters under the wings of experienced engineers.

Summers were spent in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, where he lent his skills to GSH, managing stores and ensuring smooth operations on the ground.

Fast forward to the late ’90s, and our hero embarked on an educational journey at Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), diving into the world of Petroleum Engineering Tech.

But the call of the skies was too strong to resist. With Reeves Wireline in Whitecourt, Alberta, he logged open holes across Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan, experiencing the vastness of the Canadian landscape from above — and putting in some serious “bush” time.

Wood marked a pivotal moment in 2002 as he spread his wings at GSH flight school, soaring through the curriculum with flying colors and landing a job with a reputable company.

For the next decade, he navigated the skies as a line pilot and flight instructor, with a brief detour to Elbow River Heli in 2007 for a summer adventure.

Today, he continues to make waves at Avialta Helicopters, wearing multiple hats from customer support to accountable exec, boiler repair, groundskeeping, and even cooking up a storm, when needed.

Join us as we unravel the highs, the lows, and the breathtaking views in "The Helicopter Journey of Maury Wood.”

Special thanks to our sponsors, Bell and Precision Aviation Group.