Rotor & Wing International

People Spotlight

Staff movements in the industry.

Allan Noble joined StandardAero as the company’s M250 and RR300 engine MRO sales manager for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He came from H+S Aviation Ltd., where he held his post for 21 years.

Allan Noble

Matt Callan has been named Helicopter Assn. International’s new director of regulations and international affairs. Callan was previously a captain in the U.S. Coast Guard.

Matt Callan

Heli-One has appointed Eddie Lane as president. Previously he was general manager of European operations before stepping into the interim president role at the company.

Eddie Lane

Helijet International Inc. has appointed Michael Potter as chief pilot of rotary wing and Phil Sevensma as assistant chief pilot of rotary wing. Potter will manage the operator’s flight training and operating standards for its scheduled, air medical and charter helicopter services. Potter’s 25 years of flying experience includes multi-engine, multi-crew air ambulance night-vision operations, airborne law enforcement, IFR commuter service and utility operations. Sevensma’s 20 years of experience comes from the air ambulance, offshore and other multi-engine, multi-crew operations.

Fernando de Caralt has been named CEO of aircraft parachute systems manufacturer BRS Aerospace, previously serving as SVP of engineering. He holds an MBA from the University of Navarra’s Madrid campus and a bachelor’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics engineering from Purdue University.

Fernando de Caralt

Jan Nowacki is Marenco Swisshelicopter’s new COO. He previously was head of rotor blade and airframe at Airbus Helicopters. He will take part in Marenco’s efforts to manufacture rotor blades and composite parts in house. He also will be responsible for the planning and implementation of SKYe SH09 production.

Jan Nowacki

Lockheed Martin has appointed Stephanie C. Hill as SVP of corporate strategy and business development. She will be responsible for global business strategies and will oversee the company’s efforts in identifying, assessing, qualifying and pursuing new business opportunities. Previously she was VP and general manager of Lockheed’s cyber, ships and advanced technologies unit for rotary and mission systems. She joined the company is 1987 as a software engineer.

Erickson Inc. has appointed Doug Kitani as CEO and director. He most recently served as CEO and director of IAP Worldwide Services. He is known for his expertise in mergers and acquisitions and quality improvement.

Bristow Group has tapped Timothy Knapp as SVP, general counsel, responsible for all legal aspects of the business, corporate compliance and insurance. Knapp was VP, general counsel, corporate secretary and chief compliance officer at SourceGas LLC from 2009 to 2016. He assumes David Searle’s role of interim general counsel.

Timothy Knapp

Conklin & de Decker’s VP and co-owner, Nel Stubbs, received the NASAO President’s Award, honoring distinguished individuals, state directors, staff or business partners who have made longstanding contributions to NASAO and to state aviation. Stubbs was recognized for her expertise on state aviation taxes and revenue. Before joining Conklin in 1999, she developed a tax program during her time with the National Business Aviation Association. She now consults companies and individuals on aviation tax-related matters at both the federal and state levels.

Nel Stubbs (right)
Eric Haney

Eric Haney joined xG Technology Inc.’s IMT Vislink operations as regional sales manager for unmanned and autonomous systems across North America, with emphasis on law enforcement, public safety and commercial. Haney managed business development for the commercial information solutions group at AeroVironment. He served as a law enforcement officer with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and as helicopter crew chief in the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy Reserves. RWI