Aircraft Applications Engineering group

Citation

(2001), "Aircraft Applications Engineering group", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 73 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2001.12773dab.042

Aircraft Applications Engineering group

Aircraft Applications Engineering group

Keyword: Hartzell Propeller

Hartzell Propeller recently announced that it has formed an Aircraft Applications Engineering group which aligns Hartzell's engineering expertise with its existing sales and marketing department. The newly formed group brings together the technical expertise of key Hartzell associates to develop new propeller applications, enabling Hartzell to better service and support its customers.

As part of the creation of the new team, Hartzell has promoted Mike Disbrow to senior vice president of marketing, applications and customer support (Plate 15). Under the direction of Mike, the Aircraft Applications Engineering group's main responsibilities include the development of new propeller blade designs, spinner designs, de-ice applications, and supplemental type certificates (STCs), as well as flight test functions.

Plate 15 Mike Disbrow, senior vice president of marketing, applications and customer supports Hartzell Propeller Inc.

Mike, who most recently served as Hartzell's vice president of marketing and customer support, is responsible for overseeing Hartzell's product support team, OEM sales group, Top Prop STC propeller conversion program and now the aircraft applications engineering group. During his 13-year tenure at the company, he has held a variety of positions, including managing the company's factory service center, as well as launching the Hartzell Top Prop program and directing Hartzell's Dornier 328 program.

In addition to Mike's promotion, Hartzell has also appointed Brian Meyer as the manager of the Aircraft Applications Engineering group (Plate 16). Formerly Hartzell's manager of STC Programs, in his new capacity he is responsible for the day-to-day management of the team to ensure superior quality in engineering propeller applications including propeller integration, spinner design, flight testing and de-ice system integration.

Plate 16 Brian Meyer, manager of Aircraft Applications Engineering, Hartzell Propeller Inc.

Brian has extensive experience in design, certification, flight test functions and STCS, as well as commercial experience from managing the Top Prop program. A registered professional engineer and FAA designated engineering representative (DER), he is a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). Meyer has been an active pilot for more than 22 years, holds FAA Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic certificates, and has built three aeroplanes. He earned his bachelor of science in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan and his master's degree in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Hartzell Propeller has also informed us of several other promotions in the organisation for its OEM sales and Top Prop™ sales teams. The personnel changes are a result of the formation of Hartzell's new Aircraft Applications Engineering group which aligns Hartzell's engineering expertise with its existing sales and marketing department.

Hartzell's OEM sales group has added Kevin Karam as an account representative for the team (Plate 17). In his new OEM sales role, his responsibilities include direct sales to several of Hartzell's general aviation OEM and modifier customers, with a specialisation in the agricultural aircraft market. Karam, who joined Hartzell in April 1998, originally served as a member of the Top Prop sales team. In this capacity, he gained valuable experience working with STC'D products and customer support. This experience carries over into his new sales role, enabling him to effectively service Hartzell's new modifier customers. Karam holds a bachelor of arts in aviation management from The Ohio State University.

Plate 17 Kevin Karam, account representative, Hartzell Propeller Inc.

Several Hartzell personnel have also transitioned to the Top Prop sales team, whose primary responsibility is the development and oversight of the sales, distribution and support for the Top Prop Performance Conversions STC propeller kit program.

Ken Johnson has been selected to oversee all Top Prop sales efforts in his new position as the Top Prop sales manager (Plate 18). Prior to serving in this capacity, Ken was a Hartzell OEM account representative. He joined the company in June 1997 after a career with Textron Lycoming where he was responsible for a variety of sales and engineering functions.

Plate 18 Ken Johnson, sales manager, Hartzell Propeller Inc.

Ken earned a bachelor of science in aerospace engineering from the Parks College of St Louis University and holds several licenses from the FAA. He is a Certified Flight Instructor, Instruments (CFII), an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) and an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic (A&P) with an Inspection Authorisation (iA).

Plate 19 Nancy Allenbaugh, sales representative, Hartzell Propeller Inc.

In addition to Johnson's new role, Nancy Allenbaugh has been appointed as a sales representative for the Top Prop group (Plate 19). In her previous position as a marketing analyst for the company, she specialised in Hartzell's Web development efforts. Nancy joined the company in October 1996 as a technical support analyst and has spent the majority of her time with Hartzell as its warranty administrator. She received a bachelor of arts in business administration from Otterbein College.