Sponsor Announcement: Big River Aviation Transitions to New Ownership, Continues to Sponsor The Aero Experience Team

By Carmelo Turdo

The Aero Experience is proud to announce that Big River Aviation, one of our original sponsors and advertisers, continues to support our ever-expanding coverage of Midwest Aviation. For over a decade, Big River Aviation has contributed greatly to our growth by providing not only unique story content in their maintenance facility but also some adventurous road trips and cross-country flights to service or ferry a customer's aircraft. Big River Aviation continues to provide high-quality aircraft maintenance services and is positioned for strong growth at their St. Louis Downtown Airport location.

Big River Aviation recently began a new era with a change of ownership. The official public announcement that summarizes the transition reads:

Josiah Bridges and Paul Voorhees

Cahokia Heights, IL, August 28, 2023 — Big River Aviation, a prominent player in the General Aviation repair sector, is thrilled to announce a change in ownership effective June 30th, 2023. After over a decade of successful stewardship by Paul Voorhees, the reins of leadership have been handed over to Josiah Bridges, who assumes the role of Managing Partner. This strategic transition marks an exciting opportunity for continued growth and expansion, driven by a renewed commitment to customer excellence and cutting-edge solutions.

With a remarkable legacy led by Paul Voorhees, a seasoned A&P IA with over 20 years of maintenance experience, Big River Aviation has been a cornerstone in the industry since its establishment in 2010. The new ownership team, led by Josiah Bridges A&P IA, brings a wealth of combined experience, boasting an impressive 92 years of business and aviation acumen. The commitment to maintaining the company's established reputation for excellence while embracing new horizons is at the forefront of this transition.

Under the new leadership, Big River Aviation is set to soar to new heights. Clients can anticipate a heightened customer service experience as the company introduces an innovative digital maintenance software suite. This cutting-edge technology encompasses a user-friendly customer portal, streamlined digital estimates and work authorizations, and comprehensive digital logbook solutions. Notably, Paul Voorhees, the seasoned industry expert and former owner, will continue to contribute his expertise as he takes on the role of Shop Manager within Big River Aviation. While the company's name remains unchanged, a refreshed logo and branding are set to complement these advancements. The transition assures employees and clients alike that the foundation of Big River Aviation's quality service remains steadfast while evolving to meet the demands of a dynamic industry. (End of statement).

A reputation for Excellence, A Drive for Growth

Big River Aviation is equipped to service general aviation aircraft from the STL Flight Training Cessna and Piper fleet to large piston twins and a host of unique types that make their way to the St. Louis area. Paul Voorhees and his staff conduct 50hr/100hr/annual inspections, airframe and powerplant maintenance and repairs, and aircraft recovery. The new customer portal will soon be available to ensure that the service experience is more efficient and transparent. By leveraging the resources and talent of the new management team, Big River Aviation will build upon their reputation for quality service and add greater value to the St. Louis aviation community.

Big River Aviation is known for taking on the most complex inspection and repair assignments, but the crew is ready to help with the small but necessary jobs as well. On our recent visit, the hangar contained a variety of aircraft types. Here we see Ron Brown and Dan Lorenz teaming up on a Cessna 421C pressurized twin, Stephen Long working on two different Cessna 172s and Dathan English getting parts for the next project. 

Big River Aviation believes in developing the next generation of aviation maintenance technicians, and they currently have four A&P Apprentices serving alongside the crew. One of the Apprentices, Noah Klein, was recently featured in our story, A&P Mechanic Apprentice Begins Training for Higher Calling, posted in April of this year. He began his 30-month work experience requirement in January, and he has already provided valuable support on several major projects. Here Noah is shown refilling the oil reservoir in a U.S. Forest Service DeHavilland Beaver during a 50-hour inspection performed at Big River Aviation in the spring.

The Aero Experience looks forward to the coming year as we share the unfolding story of Big River Aviation under the new ownership team. It is not often the best gets better, and we will see that happen in our upcoming features with Big River Aviation.