Episode 76: Voices from the Irving MRO Conference - Insights from Across the Industry

Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Magazine.This special edition of the Vertical MRO Podcast brings you a fast-paced series of conversations recorded live at the 2025 Irving MRO Conference. Host Jon Gray and Producer David Kreutzkamp sit down with a wide range of voices—from operators and technicians to students, MRO leaders, and innovators—to capture the energy, challenges, and ideas shaping helicopter maintenance today.Across these mini-segments, you’ll hear insights on workforce development, training pipelines, culture building, leadership, parts support, real-world problem-solving, and what keeps people passionate about this MRO community year after year. Featured guests include Lewis University and Rising Aviation students, as well as team members from Leonardo, Leading Edge Aerospace, Ace Aeronautics, Camp Systems, SAFE Structure Designs, TurboLyft and also our friend Dr Kodey Bogart — each offering a unique perspective on where our industry is today and where it’s heading.Whether you were at the conference or experiencing it for the first time through this episode, this recap highlights the collaboration, passion, and shared mission that continue to drive helicopter maintenance forward.Special thanks to our sponsors, Rotorcraft Support Inc, Vertical Aviation International and Rotorcraft Repair & Manufacturing.