Jacob Davis is a lifelong aviation enthusiast. He started small: building and flying model airplanes at age 12 and continued in International Miniature Aerobatic Club (IMAC) competition as a young adult. After earning an associate degree from Westwood College of Aviation Technology, now Redstone College, and an A&P certificate, he gained experience in a variety of aviation-related jobs.
He worked under a military maintenance contract for more than 10 years and held various positions, including aircraft mechanic, avionics technician, avionics project manager, international logistics agent, fleet subject matter expert, engineering project manager, operations liaison, and maintenance shop manager. Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, he is currently pursuing his private pilot license.
While he enjoys seeing airplanes, he doesn’t like seeing them broken.
“I love fixing problems whether it’s aging aircraft or refining processes to make work flow smoothly in the maintenance shop – even if it’s not me, it’s my team members that are fixing it,” says Davis, who is the maintenance shop manager at International Jet Aviation Services.
Davis describes himself as mission-centered – focused on getting airplanes out the hangar door so owners can make their trips and the airplanes can fly their missions.
“I really hope that more young people get involved with maintenance and have a passion for fixing airplanes because it seems like the workforce is dwindling down and most people are wanting to become pilots. I’d definitely like to see a rejuvenated interest in aircraft maintenance.”
There’s always going to be a need for aircraft maintenance, he said.
