One year after celebrating their 30th anniversary at the 2012 Air Medical Transport Conference, Metro Aviation continues to see growth in its Operations Division.  This year, Metro entered into agreements with four new programs.  Quotas have never been a priority for Metro Aviation and it’s their reputation of putting the customer first that draws many people to the company in the first place.

“We don’t set out to break records or outdo the previous year,” said Mike Stanberry, President and CEO.  “Metro is a family built upon a core set of values and we’ve never wavered from the principles we set forth 31 years ago.”

Metro doesn’t employ a dedicated sales team and instead believes in taking the customers straight to the top.  An open door policy eliminates the hierarchy of big business and clients get accustomed to a family atmosphere in which the owner is only a cell phone call away. When clients join the Metro family they can expect quality service, unparalleled parts support, a backup aircraft availability of 1:3 and the most experienced HEMS operator in Eurocopter aircraft.

Stanberry has continually put safety and training above the bottom line.  Proof of that comes in the form of the 12,000 square foot Helicopter Flight Training Center opened at the company’s headquarters in February.  Just months after conducting its first class, Metro began the work to nearly double the space to make room for additional training capabilities for both pilots and mechanics.

With the addition of the training center, Metro has shown an even bigger commitment to serving the needs of its customers and the aviation community.  The center is expected to provide a turnkey solution for training across industry sectors. Innovation is a cornerstone of the Metro culture.  First responders are now utilizing MetroAlert, a smartphone app that can alert a nearby Metro base and decrease helicopter response time by up to five minutes.

Metro was the first to equip all of its helicopters with night vision goggles and in 2014, Metro Aviation will increase value for its customers by hosting a Completion Summit.  The summit will focus on changes in the industry, maintenance and overall helicopter completion updates.

As the company grows, Stanberry knows the importance of keeping it steady and never forgetting the customers who have remained with Metro since the early days.  “We never want to grow too fast to keep up,” he said.  “We are providing quality over quantity and we must ensure our current customers are taken care of as we take on new clients.”

Metro Aviation, Inc., based in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States is a worldwide provider of completion services for all missions and types of helicopters and specializes in the EC135 and EC145 with several Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) developed by the company for these and other aircraft.  Metro is an FAA approved repair station, approved Eurocopter Service Center and FAR Part 135 air medical operations provider at several locations across the United States. The company is privately held and is one of the largest traditional air medical providers in the country.