When Terry Snyder got the opportunity to work at MHIRJ as a Crew Chief, he saw it as his chance to be part of an organization with great momentum. Working at Bridgeport, West Virginia Service Center has been an incredibly rewarding experience that he encourages others to pursue.

A West Virginia native, Terry Snyder grew up surrounded by the natural beauty of his home state. It’s a place where dramatic rock formations, thundering waterfalls, uncharted caves, and spectacular forests seem to appear around every turn in the road. Like many youths, Terry was drawn to the promise of the skies and the adventures of aviation. So, after completing high school, Terry enrolled in the U.S. Army where he received his A&P Certificate and worked as a helicopter mechanic at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. But his flight path had just begun.

After active duty, Terry turned his focus to civil aviation, returning to his beloved Bridgeport as a Mechanic at what was then called the West Virginia Air Center. Following a stint with Short Brothers, Terry was hired as Crew Chief at a major MRO in Bridgeport. When MHIRJ took over the facility in 2020, Terry saw the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a company on the rise and joined the organization. As Crew Chief at MHIRJ, Terry is counted on to manage aircraft maintenance checks and the flow of activities. “It's a lot of moving parts,” said Terry. “That’s because my responsibilities include managing manpower, tracking parts, tracking engineering, managing hours, and assigning jobs to my team of technicians as well as interacting with the customer reps.”

Much like the Army, Terry’s team is a tightly knit group that looks out for each other. In total, he oversees around 10 to 14 technicians depending on the project. “Even though we come from different areas of the country, or of the world for that matter, we’re one united team that pulls together to get the job done,” said Terry, “and with the aviation program at Pierpont College here in Bridgeport, we’re bringing in more local talent too.”

For people looking to work in an environment where there’s never a dull moment, Terry highly recommends joining MHIRJ. “It’s always challenging which is great because I love problem solving,” said Terry. “We recently did a 40K cycle check on a CRJ700 aircraft. We had to take everything off the aircraft from nose to tail. The engines, electronics, flight controls, and interiors. Everything was gutted down to bare bones, then we did an extensive check of individual systems and components for serviceability and function.”

With 30 years of experience, Terry has seen a lot. In his eyes, MHIRJ is different from any other MRO because it is heavy maintenance focused. So, whether you're a Mechanic, Sheet Metal Technician, or any other position, including Crew Chief, you get to work on the complete aircraft from nose to tail – instead of just focusing on engines or parts. Employees gain a more rounded work experience and become more valuable within the industry too.

It’s also a company that is investing in the future. “MHIRJ has invested in the business and is setting the stage for the future,” said Terry. “It's a place where you can grow and move up the ladder faster. Our service center has expanded with new hangars, we’re recruiting new talent, and we have a new computer-based online maintenance program that replaces the older way of using paper. Instead, our team uses iPads and can get everything done faster and more efficiently than before.”

His advice to aspiring aviation professionals? “I'd say get on board MHIRJ now,” said Terry. “MHIRJ is a company with a lot of good things going on and is moving in the right direction. Plus, you get to live and work in West Virginia. It's a paradise for anyone who likes the outdoors. There's fishing, mountain biking, lakes for boating, good schools, and always something to do.”

MHIRJ is different from any other MRO because it is heavy maintenance focused. So, whether you're a Mechanic, Sheet Metal Technician, or any other position, including Crew Chief, you get to work on the complete aircraft from nose to tail – instead of just focusing on engines or parts.