July/August 2024 - 14

40 UNDER 40
Chris Bushaw entered the aviation business as a mechanic and has steadily worked his
way up to upper management. He has a great attitude and has become an impressive leader.
His dedication not only to Haven MRO and team members but also to the company's customers
is unparalleled.
Bushaw is very easy to work with and has a way of putting people at ease. Haven MRO
leadership values him for his empathetic approach and genuine concern for employees' personal
well-being, always striving to ensure everyone is in a good headspace. " I love the sense
of adventure in aviation, " Bushaw said. " Literally, the sky's the limit on where you can go and
what you can do within the community and the people are great. "
Bushaw has risen from a floor mechanic to the Director of Maintenance (DOM) of a multipilot,
10-or-more charter certificate operation. He currently oversees nine aircraft, ranging
from a Meridian to a Falcon, managing this role seamlessly. Additionally, he has taken on the
position of General Manager of Haven MRO's maintenance shop. In this role, he has attracted
customers from across the U.S. and successfully sold large jobs the company had not been
able to sell before.
Bushaw is constantly learning and training on different aircraft, bringing that knowledge
Chris Bushaw
General Manager &
Director of Maintenance
Haven MRO
Age: 29
AviationPros.com/55038963
back to his colleagues. He stays up-to-date on developments in both the maintenance and Part
135 charter worlds. His commitment to continuous improvement is evident in his proactive
approach to taking on significant responsibilities within our organization. With a goal to become
a high-level executive one day, Bushaw's dedication, leadership, and expertise make him an
invaluable asset to the Haven MRO team and a driving force in the company's continued success.
Travis Carson has been an aircraft technician for the University of Oklahoma School of
Aviation for 11 years. He and five other technicians maintain a fleet of 27 training single engine
and twin aircraft that fly over 14,000 flight hours per year.
Carson took the initiative to help the school's National Intercollegiate Flight Team (NIFA)
the " Flying Sooners " practice multiple preflight competition inspections to hone their preflight
prowess towards excellence.
He also attends the school's monthly safety committee meeting, as part of the school's
aviation safety committee, ensuring a smooth flow of information from operations to maintenance
and vice versa. The day-to-day importance of keeping the fleet mission-ready is job
one. However, he said dedication to safety in the work areas and on the flight-ready ramp are
key to the aviation program's exemplary safety record and success and also the efficiency of
training line operations.
During the summer, Carson volunteers time to instruct Sooner Flight Academy summer
Travis Carson
Aviation Maintenance
Mechanic
University of Oklahoma
School of Aviation
Age: 37
AviationPros.com/55039741
camp students about aviation maintenance. Over 300 students in grades 3 to 12 per summer
attend camps and get briefed on the critical role of aircraft technicians in the aviation system.
He said, " I emphasize that if you like problem solving/troubleshooting and being around
aviation/aircraft that this will be a good career path for you. "
14 JULY/AUGUST 2024
AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY

July/August 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July/August 2024