Arlington-based aviation maintenance organisation Aviation Maintenance Professionals (AmP) has announced the appointment of Jim Balzer as COO. Effective immediately and, in tandem with the president and CEO, Balzer will oversee the company's operations, policies and long-range goals.

Balzer is the co-founder of AmP's flagship organisation AATMX and brings more than 30 years of corporate aircraft maintenance and repair expertise and leadership to the role. Prior to the creation and rebrand of AATMX to AmP, he spent eight years as an F4 fighter aircraft technician with the US Marines, then continued his aviation career with KC Aviation in 1988, serving first as an avionics electrical system completion specialist. During his tenure with KC Aviation, he served as programme manager of Falcon Jet Service for over 10 years where he expanded his aircraft maintenance expertise for multiple OEMs, including Maintenance Initial for Dassault Falcon 10, 50, 900 and 2000 models. His career successes include Part 135 DOM, 145 accountability manager and chief inspector.

In 2008, as a direct result of client recommendation and requests, Jim and Brian Allen cofounded AATMX, a full-service, customer-centric maintenance, repair and overhaul facility at Dallas Executive Airport. The company was rebranded to Aviation Maintenance Professionals in August 2018.

“It is rare to know a person with such an extensive, full-scope base of hands-on and leadership expertise in aviation,” states Dennis Moore, CEO at AmP. “Success in aviation is built one client at time and Jim's determination and reputation of this approach with operators is well known. We are proud and fortunate to have Jim at the helm of our operations.”

Balzer adds: “The first order of good business is to listen to your clients. We have found that collaboration with our customers, on every aspect of their aircraft service, is directly related to the level of our quality and their satisfaction. We must be exceptional. It really is what we do.”