Avionics News April 2016 - 38

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Scott Starick of Heron Aero Solutions

You're the founder
and owner of Heron
Aero Solutions.
Yes, and I also am a systems and
equipment DER. I wear lots of hats
from sales, marketing, business,
design, and certification and everything that's involved in starting a new
company.
How old is the company?
We just started this year in 2016.
How did you pick the name
for the company?
The company is based in Maryland,
and the blue heron is well known in
the state.

Scott Starick of Heron

Aero Solutions

ased in Maryland, Heron Aero
Solutions is an engineering,
certification and PMA kit provider for aircraft operators, modifiers
and manufacturers that is focused on
creating cost-reducing solutions for
aircraft maintenance and operations
issues. By working with users and identifying the operation or maintenance
issue, HAS can create, certify and produce solutions that reduce operating
and maintenance costs. The company
also modifies aircraft to improve performance or for mission-specific needs.
Recently, Avionics News spoke with
Scott Starick to learn about his company and his life outside the office.
38

avionics news

april

2016

With...

What is your background
that led you to founding
Heron Aero?
I originally started as an apprentice
with a mission organization called MAF
for four years. From there, I became a
licensed aircraft maintenance engineer.
I worked with them for a total of five
years and truly wanted to get into avionics, but there were few opportunities in Australia. I have dual citizenship
- U.S. and Australian - so I came to
Huntsville, Alabama. There, I met the
Odoms who gave me a great opportunity to learn. I continued to develop in
avionics, then into design and certification. Now I do engineering certification on everything from fixed wings to
rotorcraft. Heron Aero Solutions has
allowed me to expand my experience
in avionics, engineering and business.
It's been an exciting challenge.

How did you end up
in Australia?
My parents were
missionaries in Papua New
Guinea. My mom is American
and my dad is Australian.
They met and married there,
and I grew up as a kid in
Papua New Guinea. Most
of my friends were sons of
pilots and their dads flew
us around, so I was always
in a Cessna 185 or 206 and
had the aviation bug. When
I reached high school, my
parents moved to Australia.

But you have virtually
no accent.
I turned it off a long time ago. I
found it distracting in business with
people wanting me to say something
in Australian. When I go home to see
my family, I turn it back on - or at
least I think I do.
Did you have formal
education in electronics?
The academic side of my apprenticeship training was through the
Elizabeth College of TAFE in Adelaide.
My on-the-job training was at MAF.
The apprenticeship was for four years.
It was a good system. You take a
young kid and place him with experienced engineers. I wish America had
something similar.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News April 2016