Gregory Tarascio grew up second generation in a flight school family business – Ventura Air Services.
“I started coming with my dad here when I was about 8 years old. Started with sweeping up and cleaning up around the shop and learning about the tools that are used, handing him tools as needed,” Tarascio said. “I really value the time and the skill. Everything was definitely multipurpose. So I got to spend time with my father and same with my brothers. And in the meantime, we were learning a very valuable skill."
Tarascio would go on to serve as an A&P mechanic, keeping the business’ charter jet fleet flying, as well as maintaining and supporting the customer service side of Ventura’s maintenance business. Eventually, he would be promoted to director of maintenance, and be instrumental in helping Ventura earn their Argus Platinum certification.
He also helped them earn ”10 or More” approval for their first heavy jet, and continually broke company records for the amount of Garmin product installed in customer aircraft
“I feel like every day is different. Not one day is the same as the next. We are always doing a different task or we have a different problem to solve, troubleshooting something we've never troubleshot before. Figuring our way through these unique problems, in some cases, and it’s almost like doing puzzles – figuring out a way to organize the pieces in a way that works,” Tarascio said on the enjoyment he finds in his work. “It never gets boring or tedious.”
Tarascio said he wishes more people would get into the field, as the skills you learn working on aircraft can transfer over to many other areas of life.
“I feel like the skills you learn being an A&P has really crossed over quite well into a bunch of facets of my life. Whether it be working on stuff at my house; you know at least general electrical knowledge. Troubleshooting is such a big deal. And that’s where I wish that there was more focus on training how to troubleshoot and how to dumb down a system to learn what’s actually at fault. But carrying that skill set over that you learn as an A&P, it really can help you go into a bunch of other areas,” he said.
