Tradewind Aviation, the market leader in regional air mobility, announced the promotion of Kyle Haines to vice president of maintenance. A Tradewind Aviation “lifer” who joined the company as an apprentice two decades ago and has advanced steadily to his new executive position, Haines is responsible for the maintenance of the entire Tradewind Aviation fleet as well as all technical flight operations. Kyle leads 35 Tradewind team members, including 30 aircraft maintenance technicians who are interspersed between the company’s six aircraft bases across three regions and plays a key role in the day to day operations of Tradewind.
“Kyle has been a real force in our company’s success, and I know the entire team joins me in congratulating him on his promotion and wishing him continued success and growth at Tradewind,” remarks Eric Zipkin, CEO of Tradewind Aviation.
Haines joined Tradewind Aviation as a maintenance apprentice in 2004, as a recent graduate of Stratford School for Aviation Maintenance Technicians in Stratford, Connecticut. His timing was ideal, with the company in the early stages of building a fleet of aircraft, including Pilatus PC-12 turboprops and Citation CJ3 light jets as well as developing a team of skilled mechanics to maintain them.
After his promotion to director of maintenance in 2009, Haines was pivotal in managing the maintenance of Tradewind Aviation’s growing fleet of PC-12 turboprops, which numbered 16 by 2016. In 2022, the fleet expanded substantially through Tradewind Aviation’s purchase of 20 new PC-12 NGX aircraft direct from Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. The purchase gave the company one of largest Pilatus fleets in the world, with five turboprops delivered so far, and the remainder on schedule to arrive over the next three years. This purchase solidified Tradewind as a Pilatus Fleet Operator giving the team direct support from the manufacturer and allowing the maintenance team to get a comprehensive onboarding and overview of Pilatus functionality and maintenance.
Haines travels frequently between the company’s aircraft bases at Waterbury-Oxford Airport in Connecticut; Westchester County Airport in White Plains, New York; Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Gustaf III/Rémy De Haenen Airport in St Barths; Hudson Valley Regional Airport in Wappingers Falls, New York; and Tradewind’s newest base at Witham Field in Stuart, Florida, not far from Palm Beach.
Bringing a deep understanding of the Tradewind Aviation brand and operations to his new role as vice president of maintenance, Haines’ appointment will serve to further strengthen Tradewind’s position as a leading operator of private charter and scheduled flight service throughout the United States and Caribbean.
A seasoned aviation industry expert and a champion of the Tradewind ethos that every flight deserves the highest quality aircraft, crew, and service, Haines has shared his expertise with all those who work with him, and will continue to play an integral role in Tradewind’s continued expansion.
