Jon David Monti of Gardnerville, Nevada has been named the 2019 Aviation Technician of the Year. From an early age, Monti showed a propensity for all things mechanical with an interest in disassembling and improving everything he touched. Understandably, he would choose to major in Mechanical Engineering for his collegiate studies. He was also infatuated with airplanes as a youngster, soloing on his 16th birthday and earning his private pilot certificate on his 17th. He went on to earn his instrument rating, commercial pilot certificate, aircraft and powerplant mechanic certificate, and inspection authorization.
In 1975, he founded Rebuilt Aircraft, Inc. at the South Lake Tahoe, CA Airport (KTVL), relocating two years later to Minden, Nevada (KMEV). His goal was was to provide specialized maintenance and repair services for owners of Beech Bonanzas, Barons, and Travelairs. (At the time, there were no other A&Ps specializing in these aircraft in the Northern California/Nevada area.) In 1984 Rebuilt Aircraft, Inc. became a Part 145 Repair Station, and has served as chief inspector for the Repair Station ever since. He also served as a FAA Designated Airworthiness Representative (DAR) for more than 25 years preparing numerous aircraft for export to other countries and inspecting foreign aircraft for import to the US. Monti and his staff at Rebuilt Aircraft perform an average of 40 annual inspections each year, plus numerous major and minor alterations. Dave holds an STC to upgrade early 185/225 hp Bonanzas and Debonairs to the 260 hp Continental IO-470-N engine. Customers fly their Beech airplanes to Dave’s shop from 11 states.
Monti has been an integral part of the instructional staff for the Bonanza Pilot Proficiency Program (BPPP) since 1988, providing recurrent training for owners of Beech Bonanza, Baron, and Travelair airplanes. For many years, he served as the lead maintenance instructor and inspector for BPPP. When ABS restructured BPPP in 2012, he helped found Bonanza/Baron Pilot Training, Inc. (BPT) to continue the kind of one-on-one training provided by the original BPPP syllabus.Dave has participated in more than 250 BPPP and BPT clinics and has touched more than 7,500 Beechcraft pilots, companions, and fellow A&Ps throughout the US.
Monti is a regular presenter at local WINGS Seminars in the Minden/Carson City/Reno area, and enjoys supporting his local FAASTeam in multiple roles and earning WINGS credits.
Originally appointed as an Aviation Safety Counselor in 1999, he has served in this capacity as the national program evolved into today’s FAA Safety Team. As a FAASTeam Representative, he supported and conducted safety seminars as a volunteer presenter and has developed multiple specialized presentations on issues of owner maintenance for the Reno FSDO.