South Mountain Aviation Soars to Regional Dominance in Small Jet Maintenance

The one-year-old company has quickly become the Mid-Atlantic's trusted aviation service, fulfilling the need for jet maintenance.

HAGERSTOWN, Md., May 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- South Mountain Aviation, an aircraft maintenance and avionics company, has established a niche in servicing and maintaining a variety of small jets across the Mid-Atlantic. In only one year since the company's founding, South Mountain Aviation is regarded as the industry's go-to for small jet maintenance.

Jet maintenance and repairs are not widely offered in the Mid-Atlantic, causing corporate flight departments and small jet owners to travel farther and pay a higher cost for run-of-the-mill service. South Mountain Aviation's unique specialty in light and very light jets allows it to fulfill the need for small jet maintenance with timely service across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and beyond.

Over the past year, South Mountain Aviation has built a loyal customer base, with several regional and national industry giants seeking repeat service. The company's positive reputation can largely be attributed to exemplary, personal service and flexibility. It has increased its staff from 2 to 6 members and plans to double by the end of 2025, opening up more opportunities to expand services and maintain its standard of quality and timeliness. The entire staff has significant industry experience and expertise from on-the-job and factory training from Textron Aviation, Williams International and Cirrus Aircraft, among others.

South Mountain Aviation is working toward FAA authorization to become a Part 145 Certified Repair Station, which will permit additional avionics offerings. The company's services currently include the following, for Gulfstreams, Globals, Hawkers and Citation Jets:

• Aircraft Phase & Document Inspections
• Avionics Sales & Service
• AOG Mobile Service
• Aircraft Management & Tracking Services
• Heavy Check Inspections
• Heavy Maintenance on Citation Line
• Non-Disruptive Testing
• Jet X-Rays
• Airplane Fabric and Interior Repairs

South Mountain Aviation was co-founded by licensed airframe professionals Ian Terry and Jayce Keefer, and is co-owned by Rider Jet Center owner Ben Rider. Through an established relationship and backing from Textron Aviation and other aviation connections, Terry and Keefer were able to gain access to tools and resources to perform unique aviation maintenance and create South Mountain Aviation. 

"Pilots will go where they know their plane will be worked on safely, and we're proud to be the go-to maintenance choice for business and private jet owners all over," said Terry. "We came from corporate flight departments and have made a lot of industry connections. We know what people are looking for in their aircraft maintenance and we aim to leave customers just as happy and satisfied as our staff are."

"Rider Jet Center offers a wide variety of services for pilots and aircraft, and South Mountain Aviation is able to plug in the small jet maintenance piece to help it become a full one-stop FBO for all aviation needs," said Keefer. "Our team will travel far and wide to provide inspections, maintenance, and whatever a jet needs, and that's what makes us stand out as a rising leader not only regionally, but in the industry as a whole."

For more information about South Mountain Aviation, its services, and employment inquiries, visit southmountainaviation.com.

About South Mountain Aviation
South Mountain Aviation, founded in 2024, is the go to aircraft maintenance and avionics company in the Mid-Atlantic. South Mountain Aviation services and maintains Gulfstreams, Globals, and Hawkers and Citation Jets. The company also sells, installs, maintains and repairs avionics systems for general aviation aircraft, including business jets, twin turboprops and single-engine piston airplanes. South Mountain Aviation is based at a hangar in Fixed-Based Operator (FBO) Rider Jet Center in Hagerstown, Maryland. To learn more, visit southmountainaviation.com.

SOURCE South Mountain Aviation