What’s your name and title?
Frank Rich, T700 Lead
How long have you been at Mint?
I’ve been at Mint almost a year, I’ll hit a year in June.
What is your background, and how did you get started in aviation?
I was in the Army for 23 years. Before that, I didn’t really have any mechanical experience. I learned everything while I was in, and just got better at it over time.
What does your role look like on a day-to-day basis?
I’m out in the shop with the guys every day. We all do a little bit of everything. I help oversee the work, but I’m also hands-on and working alongside the team. Every day looks a little different depending on what we have going on.
What is your favorite part of your job?
The people I work with. I genuinely enjoy coming to work every day. We have a good group, we have fun, and we still get the job done. Not everyone can say they enjoy coming to work, but I do.
What is the most challenging or high-stakes part of your role?
Everything we do is high-stakes. If something is done incorrectly, lives are on the line. Right now, we are continuing to build out the T700 program while making sure we’re still meeting safety and quality standards every step of the way.
What would you say to someone interested in a career in aviation maintenance?
You don’t need prior experience to get started. I didn’t have any before the Army. In fact, sometimes it’s better to come in without bad habits so you can learn the right way from the beginning. Schooling like an A&P license is definitely valuable, but hands-on experience and repetition go a long way too.
What sets Mint Turbines apart?
We don’t let anything leave unless it’s something we would personally fly on. That’s the standard we hold ourselves to every day. We stand behind our work and make sure it’s done right.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I’m a big gamer and I like to play guitar. I play a little bit of everything, from old school Nintendo to PS5.