Shreveport, Louisiana-headquartered Metro Aviation is celebrating its 40th anniversary by focussing on bringing its rich history and tradition into the future.

“It's unbelievable to be celebrating such a milestone this year, and I attribute our success to our employees,” says president and CEO Mike Stanberry. “As a family-owned and family-oriented company that puts its employees and customers first, we've been able to make great strides in safety and innovative technologies, unbound by the constraints of shareholders or board members.”

Co-owner and director of business integration Todd Stanberry adds: “Metro is truly an industry disruptor. We are not afraid to challenge the status quo, and we are really proud to have such an amazing family of employees and customers who not only share that vision, but partner with us to continually fulfil it.”

Metro Aviation's tradition is filled with stories of quality, customer service and an uncompromising commitment to safety; a standard that radiates throughout the company and is evidenced by many of its industry-first achievements.

Metro was the first air medical operator to equip its entire fleet with Night Vision Goggles (NVGs). In 2014, it was one of only three organisations to achieve Level IV of the FAA's voluntary Safety Management System Pilot Project for Part 135 operators. And it also may have been the first to utilise video recording in the cockpit, first rigged up in the 90s by managing director Milton Geltz with a camera from the local audiovisual store.

“I was just a kid when I came to work at Metro, and I have been blessed to be a part of this incredible journey,” says COO Kenny Morrow. “I have received an invaluable education from Mike, Milton and Jerry Segura, our CFO since 1986. As we look forward to the next 40 years, we are committed to maintaining the traditional values that got us here; innovation, dedication to employees and customers, and an unrelenting drive to do the right thing all the time.”

Aside from its completions and operations business, Metro is also the parent company to PAC International and the Helicopter Flight Training Center. Metro first acquired Pennsylvania-based PAC 10 years ago; the company completes numerous aircraft for organisations across the country and serves as a completion center for Metro customers in the US northeast. In 2012, Metro opened the Helicopter Flight Training Center, catering to pilots, mechanics and communication specialists. Together, the Metro companies create a well-rounded brand to meet the needs of the helicopter community, and it continues to invest in safety initiatives and completion capabilities. Metro welcomed three new operations customers in 2021, and its completion centre is on track to complete nearly 35 aircraft in 2022.