Experience Is Everything
When it comes to the safety and maintenance of your aircraft, you can trust that LIFT Maintenance has a team of experienced and highly acclaimed licensed professionals taking care of every detail from wing to wing.
The management team has over 100 years of collective experience in aviation maintenance, ranging from airlines to military. Beyond their experience, this team brings passion, diligence and pride in their work to the hangar every single day.
Get to know who’s behind the maintenance and care of your aircraft.
Jim Boothe
Director of Maintenance
Jim has more than 35 years of aviation experience, having started in aviation in 1985 as a pilot. He attended Florida Institute of Technology in 1987 and then earned his A&P certificate from North American Institute of Aviation in 1989.
Before LIFT, Jim worked at Republic Airways as the Director of Quality Assurance. While at Republic, Jim developed and implemented an effective and efficient maintenance program for both Embraer EJet 170/190 Series and Bombardier Q400 aircraft and was responsible for inspection, records, CASS, auditing, engineering and out-sourced heavy maintenance for each of these aircraft.
Prior to Republic, Jim worked at Midway Airlines and American Eagle. Jim has worked on F-100, A320, B737-700, CRJ, EJet 170/190, Bombardier Q400, ATR 42/72, Jetstream 32, Diamond DA 40/42NG and various Cessna/Piper/Mooney aircraft. In addition, Jim is designated by the FAA as a maintenance Designated Airworthiness Representative DAR-T with function codes 101, 102, 103, 128, 129, 171, 172 and 173.
Timothy Barker
Repair Station Manager
Tim started his aviation career nearly 30 years ago in the United States Air Force. He earned his A&P certificate in 2007 from AvTech Exams in Riverside, CA.
Tim joined LIFT Maintenance with a broad background in the aviation industry, having military, general aviation and airline experience.
His resume includes:
- Purdue Aviation, LLC
- LATUS Lufthansa
- Transpac Flight Academy
- Don Davis Aviation
- Landmark Aviation
- Sabena Airline Training
- United States Air Force
Tim has experience working on Piper Aircraft, Diamond DA 40/42NG, Cirrus Aircraft, Cessna Aircraft, Beechcraft Bonanza and some jet experience. When asked if he is a self-proclaimed #avgeek, Tim confirmed that on a scale of 1 to 10, he is an 8, especially as it pertains to military aircraft!
Greg Dodson
Manager of Quality Assurance
After serving in the United States Navy, Greg earned his A&P certificate in 1986 from Love Aviation in Dallas, TX, and has accumulated more than 45 years of aviation experience throughout his career.
Before LIFT, he worked at A.A.R. Aircraft Services, Textron Aviation Indy, Tom Wood Aviation, Eagle Creek Aviation, Corporate Air, Sierra Pacific, Southern Air Transport, Mountain Air Cargo and United States Navy.
Over the years, Greg has earned many aviation maintenance certifications, some of which include Inspector Authorization, Aviation Technician Advanced Training, Tire Expert Certification, Air Safety Institute Safety Certificate Radio Communication, Tempest Product Training, Pneumatic Systems for Maintenance Professionals, Repack Procedures for Ballistic Parachutes, FAAST IA Renewal, a wide array of Cessna specializations along with Avidyne and more.
His favorite aviation-related movie is Red Tails.
Joey Leach
Manager of AMT Development
Joey manages LIFT’s AMT apprenticeship program, training the next generation of technicians for the industry. He earned his Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certificate in 2020 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance in Indianapolis.
Before joining the LIFT Academy team, Joey worked for Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife as the State Aquatic Plant Biologist, as an Aquatic Biologist for Aquatic Control Inc., a Chemist for Accurate Labs and was an Aviation Boatswains mate (fuels) in the U.S. Navy. Joey started his AMT career as a LIFT Apprentice Mechanic while enrolled at AIM. Upon graduation, he worked in the capacity of LIFT A&P Mechanic. Joey has experience working on DA 40/42NG’s, DA 62’s, DA 20’s as well as Piper PA 28 series aircraft, Cessna 150/172/182s and Aero Commander 100-180 Aircraft.
In addition, Joey builds and flies large scale Model aircraft and owns a custom model kit cutting business and is working toward his pilot’s certificate.
We deliver quality aircraft maintenance service from nose to tail.