Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Magazine.

In this two-part Vertical MRO Podcast series, hosts Jon Gray and Faith Ortega have an engaging conversation with Dale Neubauer, an airfame and powerplant (A&P) mechanic and CEO of HeliLadder; and Drew Benton Jr., owner of Helicopter Maintenance Solutions.

During the conversation, our guests explore their journeys in the helicopter community. They discuss the professional challenges faced by helicopter technicians, the importance of teamwork and communication, and the critical nature of ensuring aircraft are airworthy.

Dale talks about how his experiences in the helicopter air ambulance sector impacted his personal and professional life. He shares a personal story you won't want to miss that highlights the impact of maintenance on patient outcomes, and the lessons learned from both successes and failures in the field.

Dale talks about the motivation for him and his wife and Susie to create and launch HeliLadder in 2015, starting from their garage with a shared vision to improve aircraft maintenance safety and efficiency. Dale’s 30 years of experience in aircraft maintenance provided the foundation for creating the world’s first modular and portable workstand. 

Driven by a passion for changing how maintenance is performed, Dale and Susie’s work at HeliLadder continues to prioritize safety, comfort, and quality. Dale’s background and commitment underscore the company’s mission to support safe, efficient, and reliable aircraft maintenance, making a tangible difference in the aviation industry through innovative solutions and unwavering dedication.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Vertical Aviation International, HeliLadder and Robinson Helicopter.