AV8 Questions: Tom Kortisses

Interview with Tom Kortisses, AV8 Modern Avionics Director of Maintenance

When did you become interested in aviation? I have always been fascinated by taking things apart and figuring out how they worked. That soon rolled into building model airplanes. I enjoyed building them, but was too afraid to fly them. I then visited a College Fair during high school and was recruited by Northland Community and Technical College for Aviation Maintenance.

Are your family or friends interested in flying? No, I am the only one in my family with a passion for aviation. My oldest son shares my fascination with tinkering, but it doesn’t look like he will pursue an aviation career.

How did your career in aviation begin? After graduating from Northland Community and Technical College in northern Minnesota, I secured my first job down in northern Florida. We had to thoroughly check every plane’s nooks and crannies to keep the water moccasin snakes out of the way. Needless to say, I put in a year and found a new employer back in the Midwest.

Has your career evolution followed an expected path? For the most part, yes, I still fix airplanes. However, I don’t think there is a standard path for a mechanic. Some pick a lane and stay in it for the entire career. At my first job, I specialized in door assembly, and there were people who had done that for years. However, my path has taken a few detours, and I’ve worked on a variety of aircraft in corporate, personal, healthcare, and military settings.

Do you have a favorite aspect of your work? I value the opportunity to contribute to the success and well-being of those around me through a supportive role. I enjoy helping apprentice mechanics develop both technical skills and confidence in their work. That might mean teaching a repair technique, explaining why a system works the way it does, or helping someone think through a troubleshooting process. Aviation maintenance requires attention to detail, patience, and a willingness to keep learning, and I try to share those lessons whenever I can. When the team is successful, I know that I’ve done my job well.

Is there a time in aviation history, or aircraft that you find most fascinating? I’ve always had an appreciation for the Wright brothers. Beyond the first flight itself, I’ve always been so impressed by their commitment to trial and error and their perseverance in the face of challenges.

When is, or was, your favorite industry-related event, such as annual camp or fly-in? I served as the Scoutmaster for the local Scout Troop and loved watching the eyes of young people light up as they earned the aviation merit badge or watched the planes while volunteering at our local fly-in breakfast. Even though I see it every day, there is something magical when lift, weight, thrust, and drag come together.

What is the future of flight for you? The future of flight for me is helping develop the next generation of aviation mechanics. Over the years, I’ve worked in a variety of aviation environments and learned that experience is one of the most valuable tools a mechanic can have. While schools provide the foundation, much of the profession is learned through hands-on work, problem-solving, and mentorship. I enjoy helping apprentice mechanics refine their skills, understand the systems they work on, and build confidence in their abilities. Aviation will continue to evolve, and each generation of mechanics builds on the knowledge of those who came before them. If I can help someone become a safer, more capable mechanic and pass that knowledge along in the future, then I feel I’ve made a meaningful contribution to aviation.

AV8 Questions: Interviews with Aviators