Lycoming's Kraft and TCM's Ross Present United Front To Solve GA Fuel Issues
The GA fuel scare is doing just that... scaring a fair percentage of the GA population, especially now that a few of the associations have woken up and decided to make hay out of the issue. However; when you get two of the most important guys on the subject together, namely the bosses of Lycoming and TCM, one gets the feeling that we're going to lick this problem.
ANN put the heads of Teledyne Continental Motors and Lycoming Engines together at Oshkosh 2010 and expected fireworks... but what we got was a conversation between two deeply concerned experts who presented a united and confident front as they prepare to take aviation powerplants well into the 21st century.
From Lycoming, we spoke with Michael Kraft, the Senior Vice President and General Manager, who succeeded Ian Walsh when he was promoted to Chief Innovation Officer at Textron Systems. As Lycoming's Senior Vice President and General Manager, Kraft oversees all aspects of the business, reporting to the COO of Textron Systems. Formerly Lycoming's Vice President of Research, Development & Engineering, Kraft led a high-performing team that accelerated product development, while still meeting the company's high engine safety and performance standards. He also led Lycoming's Air Safety Investigation unit. Kraft joined Lycoming in 2007 following engineering and general management positions at Andritz, GE Power Systems and GE Aircraft Engines. He holds bachelor and master degrees in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Joining him was Teledyne Continental Motors' Boss Rhett Ross. Following completion of a Bachelors Degree in Nuclear Engineering and a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Ross has focused his career on managing engineering operations and businesses in the power and energy sector. He has been involved in both private startup and public company businesses ranging in size from $1 million per year to $200 million per year. Rhett C. Ross has served as the President, Aerospace Engines and Components Segment of Teledyne Technologies Inc since November 5, 2007, and is also referred to as the President of the Aerospace Engines and Components segment. Prior to that he was the President of Teledyne Energy Systems, Inc. since its formation in June 2001. As the President of Teledyne Continental Motors, Inc., Ross has presided over an extensive upgrade of TCM's manufacturing operations and proven to be an innovative manager of one of GA's most 'powerful' entities.
ANN is pleased to present a no-holds-barred conversation on the future of GA fuels... and GA powerplants with TCM's Rhett Ross and Lycoming's Michael Kraft -- Part One.
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