Blackhawk Aerospace has appointed Steve Cook as its new senior VP of engineering. Cook has 28 years of experience working at L3, primarily in the flight test department as a flight test engineer and test director. He also has experience working in mechanical installation design and stress analysis of aircraft structural loads and served as chairman of the weight control board within L3 to advise programme management on how to meet weight requirements for interiors.

“I believe my diverse engineering background has led me to be a better flight test engineer and test director because it gave me the opportunity to be a multi-disciplined engineer,” he says. “I'm looking forward to the opportunity to see new problems and challenges while working with everyone to find a solution and see the impact of that result.”

On joining Blackhawk, Steve will manage and oversee engineering projects, STC development, assist with management of engineering team personnel, perform flight testing and provide input and ideas for future projects and programmes.

“As a seasoned aeronautical engineer with years of experience in aircraft testing, programme management and STC development, Steve brings a new perspective to an already successful engineering programme at Blackhawk Aerospace,” adds Jim Allmon, Blackhawk's president and CEO. “Steve's experience in the turboprop and jet arenas will greatly enhance our ability to create and complete new STCs on time and on budget using our long-tested 'secret sauce' formulated by Bob Kromer, who will be retiring from Blackhawk later this year.

“Bob leaves a legacy of completing complex STC projects in a professional manner with a remarkably fast turnaround. Bob will be greatly missed, but we believe that Steve is up to the task to carry on his legacy of streamlining STC development. We sincerely thank Bob for all of his hard work and wish him well on the golf courses of Florida.”