David Gurtowsky spent four years as a crew chief on F-16s in the U S. Air Force moving on to the Gulfstream team at Duncan Aviation in Battle Creek, MI, and West Michigan Air Care in Kalamazoo, MI, working on their AS365 N2 Dauphin helicopters. He is currently at Amway Aviation as crew chief on G450, with experience on G550, Challenger 300, CJ4, BBJ and S76 aircraft.
He says his grandfather has been his mentor. “After breaking his back at a young age, he was told that he’d never walk or have children. Well, he proved them wrong and walked again and had three girls, one of which was my mother. He taught me to never give up and if I wanted something to “go get it.” If I could be half the man, husband, father, grandfather, employee, boss, and friend he was, I’d be very happy and know that I had exceeded in life.”
Gurtowsky received his initial training through United States Air Force on F-16 Fighter maintenance and F-16 engine and airframe training. He has completed Gulfstream GIV, G450 maintenance initial and recurrent training through FlightSafety International, practical wiring course through Global Jet Services, and AS365 American Eurocopter maintenance training.
He belongs to NBAA and attended the Gulfstream Operator Conference in 2014, and the NBAA Convention in Las Vegas in 2015, and is looking forward to the 2016 Gulfstream Operator Conference.
To give back to the industry, Gurtowsky works with student interns, as well as giving direction on proper techniques and procedures during the internship program at Amway Aviation.
As for career goals he aspires to be management/director of maintenance of a maintenance department.
