About Pacific Aviation Engineering & Leadership
A substantial, owner-led aviation engineering business combining serious technical capability with personal management accountability.
Serious Capability. Experienced People. Personal Accountability.
Pacific Aviation Engineering Ltd was established to provide regional and Pacific aviation operators with a responsive, high-calibre engineering alternative: assembling type-rated engineering teams, facilities, and tooling specifically suited to each aircraft requirement.
We assemble the management capability, workforce network, and technical resources required to deliver aircraft maintenance projects and transitions. Crucially, we remain owner-led: our customers deal directly with experienced aviation decision-makers who have personal responsibility for project outcomes.
Customers deal directly with experienced aviation decision-makers who have the responsibility and authority to make decisions, from initial project scoping through to project completion.
Engineering Depth with Personal Accountability
Operating under the governance of Pacific Aviation Group Ltd and partnered with sister company Flagstaff Recruitment Ltd, Pacific Aviation Engineering can assemble the management, engineering personnel and project resources required for individual aircraft requirements.
Pacific Aviation Group Structure
Three dedicated entities working together to deliver commercial governance, engineering execution, and qualified aviation workforce capability.
Pacific Aviation Engineering Ltd
The operating engineering entity that organises, scopes, manages, and delivers aircraft maintenance projects, AOG response, transitions, and technical oversight across New Zealand and the Pacific.
- Project management and critical-path milestone delivery
- Contract maintenance execution under operator Part 145 procedures
- On-site technical representation and lessor transition management
- Project-specific tooling and specialist equipment coordination
Flagstaff Recruitment Ltd
Sister company with established aviation recruitment and workforce capabilities, providing access to vetted, type-rated licensed engineers (LAMEs), mechanics, and technicians.
- Direct access to Category B1.1, B1.2, and B2 licensed engineers
- Rigorous licence validation, type rating, and regulatory compliance
- Assembly of specialist sheet metal and avionics personnel
- Project-specific engineering team scaling to match requirements
Pacific Aviation Group Ltd
The parent holding company responsible for ownership, governance, strategic direction, and commercial oversight across the group operating businesses.
- Commercial contract governance and strategic direction
- Group compliance and regulatory alignment
- Long-term customer relationship leadership
- Corporate stewardship and asset management
Meet Our Directors & Senior Principals
Pacific Aviation Engineering is an owner-led business where senior decision-makers remain directly involved in customer relationships, project scoping and project delivery.
Jason Turner
Jason brings more than four decades of aviation engineering, aircraft maintenance, production planning, project management and aviation workforce experience to Pacific Aviation Engineering.
He began his career with Air New Zealand as an apprentice aircraft engineer and progressed through component maintenance, production planning, business-process development and major aircraft maintenance and modification programmes.
His hands-on engineering experience included responsibility for the repair and overhaul of Boeing 737, C-130 and F27 landing gear, wheels and brakes.
Jason subsequently held senior planning and project roles within Air New Zealand Engineering Services, including aircraft maintenance production planning, implementation of maintenance business systems, fleet modification programmes and aircraft lease-transition work.
Since 2012, Jason has been Managing Director of Flagstaff Recruitment, specialising in aviation technical personnel, contract workforce solutions and support for aircraft maintenance and engineering programmes.
Through Flagstaff, Jason has developed an extensive network of aviation engineers, technicians, contractors, customers and industry contacts across New Zealand and the wider region.
That network provides Pacific Aviation Engineering with an important foundation for assembling specialist teams, sourcing experienced personnel and responding quickly to customer requirements.
Jason's combination of hands-on engineering experience, major-airline maintenance planning, project delivery and current aviation-industry relationships places him at the centre of Pacific Aviation Engineering's operational and technical capability.
Technical production planning for installation of LiveTV systems across a fleet of 48 Boeing 737NG aircraft. Responsibilities included aircraft workscopes, task cards, production planning, critical-path scheduling, documentation control, customer liaison, progress monitoring and supervision of planning personnel.
Worked with New Zealand Defence Force management on technical workforce requirements, tender preparation, commercial costing and recruitment of specialist personnel for the C-130 Life Extension programme.
Through Flagstaff Recruitment, supplied specialist contract aviation personnel supporting on-site repair and refurbishment of DHC-6 Twin Otter wing structures in Port Vila, Vanuatu.
Through Flagstaff Recruitment, supplied specialist aviation personnel supporting the disassembly and part-out of six Boeing 737 freighter aircraft in New Zealand.
Through Flagstaff Recruitment, supplied specialist technical personnel supporting C-130 aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul programmes.
Through Flagstaff Recruitment, supplied qualified aviation engineers and technical personnel supporting Dash 8 and ATR72 aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul programmes.
As Project Leader within Air New Zealand Engineering Services, Jason was involved in the return of leased aircraft and induction of aircraft into the airline, including technical compliance, aircraft-condition assessment, project scheduling, financial control, risk analysis and liaison between the airline and leasing companies.
Completed a 12-month technical placement with Boeing Customer Services covering maintenance engineering, propulsion-system support, aircraft configuration, regulatory matters, technical liaison with design engineers and suppliers, and investigation of aircraft in-service issues.
David Rycroft
David combines hands-on aircraft engineering experience with more than 25 years of senior executive leadership, business development and commercial management across aviation, engineering and other technically complex industries.
He began his career with Air New Zealand, completing a five-year aircraft engineering apprenticeship before working as a qualified aircraft engineer.
His early experience covered airframe and engine maintenance, structures, hydraulics and pneumatics, sheet-metal and composite work, aircraft interiors, and both light and heavy aircraft maintenance.
David later became CEO of AEL Engineering Ltd, where he and his business partner transformed a financially distressed general engineering company into a profitable aviation engineering, manufacturing and component maintenance business.
As CEO, David was responsible for company strategy, business development, growth opportunities, contract negotiation and management, regulatory and quality-system oversight, insurance and overall corporate leadership.
He and his business partner secured the company's aviation-related business and developed AEL from an operation employing approximately six people into a specialist aviation engineering company employing approximately fourteen.
During this period, annual revenue grew from less than NZD $500,000 to more than NZD $3 million, with approximately 22% profitability.
AEL developed significant in-house aviation engineering capability and secured work with customers and aviation organisations including Pacific Blue, Mt Cook Airlines, Pratt & Whitney Engine Centre, Air New Zealand and Jetstar.
David holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Canterbury, a Graduate Diploma in Economic Development and a Trade Certificate in Aircraft Engineering.
Led the transformation of a financially distressed general engineering operation into a specialist aviation engineering, manufacturing and component MRO business. The company developed new aviation capability, secured regulatory and quality approvals, established major customer relationships and grew annual revenue from below NZD $500,000 to more than NZD $3 million.
Established capability under AEL's NZCAA Part 145 approval for the complete inspection, repair and overhaul of Boeing 737 and ATR wheel and brake assemblies. Customers included Pacific Blue and Mt Cook Airlines, with wheel and brake work also undertaken for Jetstar.
Secured and managed outsourced engine-component repair and overhaul work supporting the Pratt & Whitney Engine Centre. Work included Rolls-Royce Dart components such as combustion chambers, nozzles and seals, together with Pratt & Whitney JT8D components including turbine blades, engine casings and other specialist engine parts.
Established and managed a dedicated component stores facility for Pacific Blue, including development of a computer-based inventory-management system to record component receipts, issues and stock holdings.
Led AEL's design and fabrication of aluminium ground-support equipment required to support Pacific Blue's entry into the New Zealand market. Equipment included aircraft access stands, portable stairs and other ramp-based access equipment.
As CEO, oversaw the achievement and maintenance of NZCAA Part 145 Aircraft Maintenance, NZCAA Part 148 Aircraft Manufacturing, NZCAA Part 19F Supply Organisation, and AS9100 Aerospace Quality Management certification.
Developed an aviation engineering operation with in-house capability including precision machining, titanium and aluminium welding, non-destructive testing, shot peening, component cleaning, riveting, sheet-metal work and specialist painting.
AEL provided specialist engineering services to Air New Zealand and associated aviation operations, including shot peening, component work and other on-demand engineering services.
Discuss your fleet requirements directly with our company directors and senior principals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clear information on our company structure, Part 145 regulatory framework, and project-assembled delivery model.
How does Pacific Aviation Engineering deliver projects without operating a permanent heavy maintenance hangar?
We operate on a flexible, project-assembled model. For each maintenance input or technical project, we assemble the right people, secure appropriate facility space, and mobilise the necessary tooling and equipment specifically for that aircraft and workscope. This allows operators to access dedicated engineering capability tailored to their particular requirement, location, and timeframe.
What regulatory framework does Pacific Aviation Engineering operate under?
Where aircraft maintenance is undertaken, work would normally be performed within the relevant aircraft operator's existing Part 145 approval, procedures, and certification structure. Pacific Aviation Engineering does not currently hold itself out as a standalone Part 145 MRO; we integrate directly with the operator's approved maintenance exposition and quality system.
What is the relationship between Pacific Aviation Engineering and Flagstaff Recruitment?
Flagstaff Recruitment Ltd is our sister company under Pacific Aviation Group Ltd. Flagstaff provides access to qualified, type-rated licensed aircraft engineers and specialist technical personnel. Pacific Aviation Engineering uses that workforce capability to assemble, manage, and deliver engineering projects. In short: Flagstaff provides access to people; Pacific Aviation Engineering delivers engineering outcomes.
What does "owner-led" mean in practice for customers?
Pacific Aviation Engineering is an owner-led business where senior decision-makers remain directly involved in customer relationships, project scoping, and project delivery. Customers have direct access to experienced people with the responsibility and authority to make decisions, ensuring personal accountability from initial enquiry through to project completion.
How does Pacific Aviation Engineering support urgent technical requirements or AOG situations?
Pacific Aviation Engineering can respond to urgent technical requirements and AOG situations by rapidly assembling engineers, tooling, and parts for deployment from New Zealand or within the region, subject to aircraft type, engineer availability, travel logistics, and regulatory arrangements.
What aircraft types does the company support?
Our primary focus is on regional turboprops and utility aircraft including the ATR 42/72 series, De Havilland Dash 8 series, DHC-6 Twin Otter, and Beechcraft King Air. For commercial narrow-bodies such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320, we provide transition management, lease return inspections, pre-purchase surveys, and independent technical representation.