Aircraft Maintenance, An Inside Look at UND Aerospace

The Story Behind UND’s Director of Aircraft Maintenance, Dan Kasowski.

In the fall of 1979, Dan Kasowski began his career in the Aircraft Maintenance Department at the University of North Dakota. In his over 40-year career at the school, Kasowski has left an impact felt throughout flight operations at UND Aerospace, contributing to its success as a flight program.

Where It All Began

Originally from Buffalo, North Dakota, Kasowski grew up surrounded by family. His interest in aviation began as a high school senior when he visited Dakota Aero Tech in Fargo, which was co-owned by his uncle.

“They toured me through the place and showed me around. Once I had looked around the shop, the idea of it really intrigued me,” said Kasowski. “I received my A&P shortly after. I had a job lined up before I was even done with school in Rugby, ND.”

Starting at UND

After spending a year working in Rugby, Kasowski applied to the growing program at the University of North Dakota. When Kasowski began as a mechanic, UND only had two, soon to be three, full-time mechanics. “We only had about 30 aircraft at the time,” explained Kasowski.

“We kind of grew from there. Since I’ve held almost every position within the maintenance department, I’ve worked at UND for 45 years this year. I’ve worked under every dean that there has been in Aerospace, which has been really cool.”

Looking Back at the Years

In his time at UND, Kasowski held positions as a mechanic, shift supervisor, maintenance manager, quality control manager, repair station plan writer, and shop maintenance manager before being promoted to his current position as the director of aviation maintenance.

Over the last forty-five years, Kasowski has seen the program grow and develop into what it is today.

Changing technology and the school’s growth have contributed to the changes he has seen over his career.

“One of our biggest challenges has been keeping up with growth,” said Kasowski. “When you go from only flying 30,000 to 120,000 hours a year, you must find some way to stay proactive. I think we are in a really good position today.”

The People Behind the Aircraft Maintenance Department

Now, the Maintenance Department hosts about 30 aircraft technicians and a total of 45 employees who work to keep UND’s fleet operational. “If I could change one thing about my time here, it would be to write a book about all the people who have worked here,” said Kasowski. “It’s the people here who make it special. The number of people who have come through this department and seeing where their career takes them is rewarding. I like to think that the University contributed to their success.”

Work Outside of UND Aerospace

In addition to the work Kasowski contributes to UND, he also works closely with partners outside the University. Whether it be the FAA, Lycoming, Garmin, Piper, Textron Aviation, and more, Kasowski’s work in maintenance has extended well beyond the University and into aviation as a whole.

“Dan set the standard for the industry.” said Hans Stancil, General Manager of American Sales at Piper Aircraft Inc. “Flight schools around the country follow what Dan does.”

What’s Next?

Kasowski’s next major step is to find a date to retire. He has some goals he wants to accomplish before he leaves. After that, he hopes to spend time by the lake and go somewhere warm during the winter months.

“I get asked when I’m going to retire,” said Kasowski. “But I’m still having fun. I love my job and like coming to work. That’s the fun part of being here. We have great facilities and great airplanes, and our staff recognizes that. We can get a little competitive; being the number one flight school is hard work, but we continually strive to be on the leading edge of technology and maintain our aircraft to the highest of standards.”

Mr. Maintenance

Kasowski has been praised for not just his skills as a mechanic but also his organization, patience, and sense of humor. His work and contributions not just to UND but to aviation maintenance as a whole have led to the coining of his nickname “Mr. Maintenance.”

He expects the Maintenance Department to continue to hold high standards in the years ahead.

“I think they will probably continue at the pace we are at,” says Kasowski. “Now it’s mainly maintaining a status quo and making sure we have qualified people. I’ve been very lucky in my time here – I have been able to hire some really great employees, so now it’s just staying proactive.”

These contributions and more have put Kasowski at the forefront of aviation maintenance. This year, Kasowski was recognized for his work in aviation when he was inducted into North Dakota’s Aviation Hall of Fame.

“That was pretty cool,” said Kasowski. “Through life, you get awards, but I never even dreamed of being in the Hall of Fame. When it was announced, it took a few hours for it to sink in. Years ago, I was on the aviation council that selected these people, so I know the process and the kind of applicants they receive. It was an honor to be selected [and] meant the world that people thought I was worthy of that. It has been one of the highlights of my career, and it was a total surprise.”

UND Aerospace would not be where it is today without the skills and expertise of Dan Kasowski. His contributions to aircraft maintenance and the school can be seen throughout its history and will be felt for years to come.

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Written by: Averie Eixenberger, Commercial Aviation and English major at UND.