The Vertical MRO Podcast

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

In Part II of this conversation, Ronnie continues the discussion with Mike Kunkel of PG&E on the realities of building and sustaining a just culture in aviation operations.

The episode focuses on the challenges organizations face when trying to move from compliance-driven safety programs toward environments built on trust, accountability, and open communication. Mike shares lessons learned from aviation safety management, including common leadership mistakes that can discourage reporting and weaken safety culture over time.

The conversation also explores the importance of feedback loops, workforce engagement, and creating systems that encourage continuous learning instead of blame.

For aviation professionals across maintenance and operations, this episode provides practical insight into the human side of safety and the long-term work required to build resilient teams.

Special thanks to this episode's sponsors, Rotorcraft Support Inc and Metro Aviation.

Also, be sure to check out Vertical MRO's Instagram channel for even more awesome content highlighting the awesome work being done to keep the rotorcraft community flying!

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

In this episode, Ronnie sits down with Mike Kunkel, safety management system program manager at PG&E, to discuss his path through aviation and the experiences that shaped his approach to safety leadership.

The conversation begins with Mike’s early flying experiences in Alaska and his time supporting law enforcement aviation operations, offering a firsthand look at the operational environments, decision-making, and responsibilities that come with mission-driven flying.

As the discussion develops, Mike shares how those experiences influenced his perspective on aviation safety, communication, and organizational culture.

For operators, maintainers, and aviation professionals, Part I provides a grounded look at the real-world operational background behind today’s conversations around safety management and just culture.

Special thanks to this episode's sponsors, Precision Aviation Group and Robinson Helicopter.

Also, be sure to check out Vertical MRO's Instagram channel for even more awesome content highlighting the awesome work being done to keep the rotorcraft community flying!

Welcome to another episode of Vertical MRO Tech Talk presented by Bell.

In this episode of Vertical MRO Tech Talk presented by Bell, host Jon Gray is joined by Greg Judd, along with Gabriel Leveille and Jason Estaphan, to discuss the Garmin G1000. This conversation provides a deeper understanding of how the system can directly support maintainers in their day-to-day work. As avionics platforms continue to evolve, systems like the G1000 have become more than just flight deck tools—they are increasingly valuable resources for troubleshooting, diagnostics, and operational insight.

The conversation explores the progression from earlier systems to newer configurations like NXi, highlighting improvements in processing speed, internal memory, and system integration. These advancements have significantly reduced update times, simplified database management, and improved the ability to diagnose faults more precisely. For maintainers, this means less time chasing ambiguous issues and more confidence in identifying root causes.

Beyond hardware and software improvements, the discussion emphasizes the importance of engaging with the system itself. From navigating system pages to interpreting flight and fault data, building familiarity with the G1000 allows technicians to better leverage available information and avoid unnecessary component changes. The ability to access and interpret log files, system messages, and historical data is becoming an essential skill set in modern rotorcraft maintenance.

As avionics systems continue to advance, the gap between operations and maintenance continues to narrow. This conversation highlights how maintainers who invest time in understanding these platforms are better equipped to support both the aircraft and the mission.

We want to hear from you! – techtalk@bellflight.com
Need help with your Bell helicopter? Email us at productsupport@bellflight.com or visit https://www.bellflight.com/support/commercial.

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

For this episode, Jon Gray sits down with Don Lockie of Aviation Resources Group and Peter Van Dael, product manager at Navi-Gate, for a live conversation recorded on the show floor at Verticon 2025.
While logistics often happens behind the scenes, it plays a critical role in keeping aircraft, components, and maintenance operations moving. Don and Peter share insights from years of experience coordinating aircraft transportation, navigating international regulations, and solving the unexpected challenges that can arise when moving high-value aviation assets around the world.
The conversation explores how supply chains have evolved since COVID, the importance of planning logistics early in a project, and why waiting too long to make transportation decisions can lead to unnecessary costs and delays. From regulatory requirements to practical decision-making, the discussion highlights the often-overlooked work that helps keep maintenance and operational schedules on track.
Whether you're moving a component across a border or relocating an entire aircraft, this episode offers practical lessons on planning, communication, and the partnerships required to make aviation logistics successful.
Special thanks to this episode's sponsors, Rotorcraft Support Inc and Metro Aviation.

Also, be sure to check out Vertical MRO's Instagram channel for even more awesome content highlighting the awesome work being done to keep the rotorcraft community flying!

Welcome to Vertical MRO Alerts, presented by Bell!

In this Alert, Product Support Engineering (PSE) Manager Marc Dubé is joined by Gilbert Gaudreault, 407 PSE Lead, to discuss the release of Garmin G1000H NXi Software 24 and the associated service directives issued for Bell 407GXi operators.
Marc and Gilbert explain why Bell released an Alert Service Bulletin for certain aircraft equipped with two-axis and three-axis autopilot systems, including IFR-configured aircraft. The software update addresses a previously identified potential autopilot issue that could result in an uncommanded pitch-up.
The episode also highlights several enhancements included in Software 24, such as improvements to maintenance and troubleshooting capabilities, support for upcoming filtration and cockpit voice/data recorder provisions, and updated procedures for software loading. Operators will learn about the new process for obtaining software loader cards through MyBell, the reasons behind the change, and the additional cards required to complete the upgrade.

For full details, operators should always refer directly to the Official Alert Service Bulletin. 
The full library of episodes is available to listen to on demand
We want to hear from you! - techtalk@bellflight.com
Need help with your Bell helicopter? - productsupport@bellflight.com