Life on the Road (Show)
June 2, 2025
In less than two years, the King Aerospace “Road Show” has quickly grown to become one of the company’s core offerings for government and military clients. Teams work at client facilities across the country and around the globe to keep aircraft flying and to bring important programs back on track.
“We can handle anything you could possibly imagine that can be done to an aircraft,” says Robert Leal, deputy SEMA program manager for King Aerospace. “Structural repairs, isochronal inspections or landing gear paint – we’re performing that right now – to airframe paint and interior mods. We can manage the whole nine yards.”
Road Show teams may comprise anywhere from 10-30 people, depending on program requirements. All are meticulously selected for their expertise, with qualified contract personnel hired from surrounding areas to work alongside King Aerospace employees.
Whether a contractor or employee, all Road Show team members play a significant role not only in fulfilling customer expectations, but also in spreading King Kulture and demonstrating the company’s values and mindset, on location.
Ron Soret, company senior director for special projects, notes Road Show teams are able to express that mission in a unique and meaningful way.
“There’s a process by which King Aerospace rewards employees with our Gold Wings,” he explains. “You must prove your value and that you embrace the company culture. We decided to create special ‘Road Show’ Gold Wings for these team members, so those working for King Aerospace in our customers’ hangars can be picked out immediately – And, so you can tell that they’re all part of the same company.”
Assisting the Customer Leads to New Experiences and Opportunities
One important Road Show assignment now underway involves airframe repairs and modifications – including to fuselage frames, stringers and skins – for an executive aircraft fleet in San Antonio, TX. Twenty-six team members, primarily heavy structures technicians, are expected to be on site for six months, with possible extensions as the team is assigned new tasks.
“This is a very exciting time for King Aerospace,” Soret says. “We’re finding a lot of niche areas where we can support this customer, ranging from mechanical, interior and painting support to structural repairs and modifications. We’re proving that we can add value and truly serve as a ‘one-stop,’ total solution for them.”
‘Life on the Road (Show)’ offers both pros and cons. While team members welcome the varied and challenging work, they’re often hundreds of miles away from their families for weeks or months at a time, calling kitchenette-equipped hotel rooms or Airbnb rentals “home.”
Jose Valdespino has been with King Aerospace for six years, originally as a site manager at Fort Bliss and close to his home in El Paso, TX. Working 550 miles away in San Antonio creates challenges for the father of two, but his family understands it’s for an important purpose.
“It’s difficult being away from home,” he says. “But there’s a need for the job, and I’m really passionate about this company and the role we serve. They trust me to help propel this mission and carry forth King Aerospace’s vision. And I’m very lucky to be part of that team.”
Road Show teams must also adapt quickly to a new work environment. “They’ve sent us to a lot of rigorous training,” says Daniel Hayslip, a contractor in San Antonio. “That part was a little overwhelming, but I’ve also met people from all over the place and it’s pretty great here.
“Everyone has been really nice,” he adds. “If you’re nice to them, they’re nice to you. And you can’t beat the food, the spirit and everything here.”
Leal emphasizes the importance of working as a team with the client. “We always convey that we’re here to help and make their jobs easier,” he concludes. “Our primary objective is to keep the customer happy and return their aircraft to service better than it was when it came in, as fast and efficiently as we can, while also maintaining the highest level of quality.”