What Does a Great Propeller Repair Partner Look Like? Banyan Air Service Shares Their Perspective.

When an aircraft owner brings an airplane in for maintenance, they usually see the finished result: the aircraft returns to service and the mission continues.

What they don’t always see is the network of specialized maintenance providers working behind the scenes to make that happen.

For Banyan Air Service—one of the country’s leading FBOs, MROs, and aviation service providers—a trusted propeller repair partner isn’t simply another vendor. They’re an extension of the maintenance team.

After working with Aviation Propellers, Inc. for more than 15 years, Banyan’s maintenance and sales teams say the relationship has become exactly that.

Built on Decades of Trust

Some business relationships begin with contracts.

Others begin with people.

For Banyan, the connection to Aviation Propellers goes back generations.

“Jason’s father used to work at Banyan,” said Danny Santiago, Director of MRO Sales. “We have kind of a special relationship.”

Over the years, that relationship has grown from familiarity into long-term business confidence. Today, Aviation Propellers supports Banyan with propeller repairs, overhauls, troubleshooting, technical consultation, and warranty support across a wide range of aircraft.

Fast Answers Matter

Aircraft maintenance often begins with a simple question.

How much will it cost?

How long will it take?

Can it be repaired?

According to Santiago, getting accurate information quickly helps Banyan serve its own customers with confidence.

“If I have a customer who has a propeller inquiry or needs a repair or overhaul, Bruno gets me the numbers,” he explained. “I’ve had nothing but great experiences with them.”

That responsiveness became especially valuable after COVID, when technician shortages, supply chain disruptions, and extended lead times affected maintenance providers throughout the aviation industry.

“Everybody was busy,” Santiago recalled. “It was really hard to find good vendors.”

Despite those industry challenges, he says Aviation Propellers continued to support Banyan whenever possible.

“They always came up with options for us. They did the best they could to support us—and continue to do so.”

Supporting operators during periods of high demand aligns with Aviation Propellers’ focus on fleet support, AOG response, and fast turnaround for MROs and maintenance organizations.

Technical Expertise That Earns Respect

Relationships are built on service.

Confidence is built on expertise.

Bruno D’Souza, Banyan’s MRO Parts Manager, remembers visiting Aviation Propellers years ago to audit the facility before establishing the business relationship.

Joining him was Banyan Chief Inspector Robert Toto—described as someone who is not easily impressed when it comes to propeller maintenance.

After touring the shop and speaking with the technicians, the verdict was clear.

“He came out saying, ‘Wow—they really know what they’re talking about.’”

For D’Souza, that technical confidence has remained consistent ever since.

“We’ve never had any quality issues with them. Everything they’ve brought back has been top quality.”

Aviation Propellers is an FAA- and EASA-certified repair station and serves as a Hartzell Recommended Service Facility (RSF), maintaining manufacturer-approved standards through regular audits and factory training.

When the Problem Isn’t Yours—But You Solve It Anyway

One story stood out to both Banyan team members.

A King Air owner had invested in new swept-blade Hartzell propellers as part of a performance upgrade. After installation, the aircraft developed an unexpected vibration.

The propellers were brand new.

The issue originated under warranty.

Technically, it wasn’t Aviation Propellers’ responsibility.

But as Banyan’s authorized Hartzell repair partner, Jason Gato accepted the propellers immediately.

Within approximately 24 hours, the propeller was inspected, statically rebalanced, and returned.

The customer has been satisfied ever since.

“Jason didn’t see it as someone else’s problem,” Santiago said. “He saw it as, ‘How can I help?’”

That willingness to take ownership—even when the issue originated elsewhere—left a lasting impression.

More Than Repairs

Banyan also relies on Aviation Propellers for technical guidance before work even reaches the shop.

When technicians encounter unusual wear, uncertain damage, or field questions during aircraft recovery, Jason Gato often serves as a technical sounding board.

“We’ll call and ask, ‘Have you seen this before? Do you think it’s repairable?’”

According to D’Souza, the response is consistently the same.

“Jason is always open to help us out.”

That technical collaboration helps Banyan make informed maintenance decisions while supporting customers both in the shop and in the field.

Working Together to Reduce Downtime

For aircraft owners, downtime is expensive.

For maintenance organizations, every additional day affects scheduling, labor, customer expectations, and aircraft availability.

Banyan says one of the most valuable aspects of working with Aviation Propellers is the willingness to look for ways to shorten repair timelines whenever possible.

“When we ask if something quoted at four weeks can be done in three—or maybe two—Jason never just says, ‘No, that’s the lead time,’” Santiago explained.

Instead, the response is typically:

“Let me see what I can do.”

That flexibility doesn’t guarantee every turnaround can be accelerated.

But Banyan says the willingness to evaluate each situation—and personally become involved when possible—has helped reduce downtime for their customers.

Aviation First

Beyond the technical work, both Banyan representatives pointed to something less tangible.

Passion.

Santiago follows Jason Gato on LinkedIn and notices that many of his posts aren’t marketing.

They’re simply about aviation.

“He truly lives it,” Santiago said. “He wakes up, breathes, and eats aviation.”

That enthusiasm shows up in customer interactions as well.

Rather than treating repairs as transactions, Banyan believes Aviation Propellers approaches each aircraft with genuine interest in helping operators safely return to service.

A Partnership That Benefits Aircraft Owners

After more than a decade of working together, Banyan’s assessment is straightforward.

“The quality is amazing.”

“The customer service is great.”

“We have zero complaints.”

For Banyan Air Service, Aviation Propellers has become more than a repair vendor.

They’ve become a trusted extension of the maintenance team—providing technical expertise, responsive communication, OEM-authorized support, and a commitment to helping aircraft owners get back in the air with confidence.

About Aviation Propellers, Inc.

Based in Opa-locka, Florida, Aviation Propellers, Inc. provides inspection, overhaul, repair, balancing, troubleshooting, and governor services for operators throughout North America, the Caribbean, and beyond. The company is an FAA- and EASA-certified repair station, a Hartzell Recommended Service Facility, and maintains factory authorizations for multiple leading propeller manufacturers.

To learn more about Aviation Propellers’ fleet support, AOG response, and propeller maintenance services, contact the team at info@avprops.com or +1 (305) 688-9439.

One recommendation: I’d keep this as a customer success story rather than a generic testimonial. The strongest differentiator isn’t that Banyan says AvProps has “great customer service”—it’s the specific examples: the OEM warranty case turned in within roughly 24 hours, the willingness to troubleshoot by phone, the ability to work on lead times, and the fact that Banyan’s own chief inspector came away impressed after auditing the facility. Those concrete stories make the piece far more credible than relying on praise alone.