Yingling Aviation chairman and CEO Lynn Nichols has promoted the current chief financial officer, his son Andrew Nichols, to the position of president. “The move is the logical next step in our generational succession plan, designed to provide a smooth transition for the company and position it for continued success,” says Nichols senior.

“Lonnie Vaughan, who has served admirably as Yingling's president for the past seven years, will effectively swap positions with Andrew, returning to the post he held prior to being named president in 2012. Lonnie and I both recognise that we are not getting any younger, so we have been grooming Andrew over the last few years to eventually take over the family's business. The timing of this move gives me the opportunity to work with Andrew more closely before I eventually retire. Lonnie has also been a part of this plan over these years and I greatly appreciate his loyalty and perspective. He understands the importance of this transition.”

A licensed private pilot, Andrew Nichols is a graduate of both Kansas State and Wichita State universities with degrees in finance and business management. His familiarity with the diverse operations of Yingling Aviation began early, when he worked in a variety of roles for the firm while in high school and college. He came to Yingling on a full-time basis in 2010 after serving in the finance department of Cessna Aircraft Company.

Lynn Nichols has also expanded the roles of director of maintenance Chris Short and director of parts Rebecca Williams. Short's responsibilities will now include oversight of aircraft maintenance, avionics, interiors and aircraft paint services. Williams' position has been broadened to include management of propeller sales, repair and overhaul services.

“We are currently in the process of implementing the largest facilities, services and worker expansion in the company's history,” Nichols adds. “We're doing so with a great deal of confidence that everything is aligning us for continued growth in 2020 and beyond.”

Yingling Aviation was founded in 1946 and named Cessna’s first authorised facility. Both a FAA/EASA MRO and FBO facility, Yingling is located at Dwight D Eisenhower National airport in Wichita. Yingling Aviation is an authorised service center for Cessna, Beechcraft, Garmin, Collins, Bendix-King, Pratt & Whitney, McCauley, Hartzell, MT, Sensenich and Phillips 66 products. With over 200,000 sq ft of facilities, the company’s services include piston, turbo-prop and turbine aircraft maintenance, special mission modifications, avionics, interiors, parts and aircraft paint services.