Certified Aviation Services brings back Zachary Bagdasarian to lead line maintenance

Certified Aviation Services rehired veteran aviation leader Zachary Bagdasarian as vice president of line maintenance, giving the company an experienced hand to oversee its U.S. station network. The move is aimed at strengthening safety, consistency and customer performance as CAS expands its maintenance operations.

Why it matters: - Certified Aviation Services is putting an experienced operator back in charge of a core part of its business: U.S. line maintenance. - The appointment is designed to support safety, quality, workforce development and customer service across CAS stations. - CAS is also signaling continued investment in operational leadership as it grows its line maintenance network and broader aircraft maintenance capabilities.

What happened: - Certified Aviation Services, LLC announced Sept. 2 that Zachary “Zach” Bagdasarian has rejoined the company as vice president of line maintenance. - Bagdasarian will oversee CAS line maintenance operations across the company’s U.S. station network. - His responsibilities include operational performance, safety, quality, workforce development and customer service. - Brad Caban, president and CEO of Certified Aviation Services, welcomed Bagdasarian back and said the hire brings immediate familiarity and broader operating perspective.

The details: - Bagdasarian previously worked at CAS from 2005 to 2012. - During that earlier run, he rose from Las Vegas station general manager to regional director. - He managed eight line maintenance stations and their profit-and-loss performance. - He led operational turnarounds and developed technical and management talent. - He maintained close relationships with airline customers. - Bagdasarian also led the Las Vegas base through FAA Part 145 Repair Station certification in 60 days. - Most recently, he served as Air Canada’s regional manager of line maintenance for the Western United States, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. - In that role, he oversaw operations across 38 stations. - He coordinated AOG response and technical training. - He managed a terminal handling budget. - He transitioned maintenance providers at five major stations without operational disruption. - He led the launch of 12 new stations across the Western United States and Mexico. - Bagdasarian is a licensed Airframe and Powerplant mechanic. - He brings nearly five decades of aircraft maintenance experience and more than four decades in management. - His career includes 21 years in the United States Air Force, where he led jet engine and line maintenance operations. - He later held leadership roles with National Airlines and Raytheon Aircraft Service. - Bagdasarian holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.

Between the lines: - CAS appears to value leaders who combine regulatory experience, station-level execution and customer-facing operational discipline. - The company’s emphasis on prior CAS experience suggests it wants faster integration and less ramp-up time in a role tied to daily operational reliability. - Bagdasarian’s background across military, airline and maintenance-provider settings points to a hire built for complex, multi-site oversight.

What's next: - Bagdasarian will focus on supporting CAS employees, maintaining safety and quality, strengthening accountability across the station network and improving service reliability. - CAS is likely to lean on his leadership as it continues to expand and standardize its maintenance operations. - The company says the appointment supports its broader push to strengthen integrated aircraft maintenance capabilities.

The bottom line: - CAS is betting that a returning veteran leader can help sharpen execution across its U.S. line maintenance business while the company keeps growing.