Enstrom Announces New Senior Leadership Position
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation is proud to officially welcome Charles “Chuck” Wade into his role as Senior Vice President of Product, Sales, and Customer Excellence.
With an eye on growth and a passion for customer service, Wade will work to solidify Enstrom’s relationship with current clients and expand the company’s reach into new markets.
Enstrom President Todd Tetzlaff said, “Chuck excels in engaging customers and leading teams of people, two skills that will prove essential to Enstrom’s vision of providing quality helicopters to even more customers.”
Wade has been with Enstrom for more than a year and assumed his new position in December 2024. He brings with him more than 40 years in the aviation industry. He earned his associate degree in avionics at Alexandria AVTI, then earned his FCC license with radar endorsement, A&P license, and several flight safety certifications.
Prior to joining the Enstrom team, Wade began his career in flight line maintenance, specializing in both A&P as well as avionics. He then spent the next 24 years at Collins Aerospace, working as a customer support agent, an avionics systems engineer, and most recently, as the avionics market manager/director.
Wade said, “I was looking to join a small aerospace company, and I was familiar with the Enstrom brand. I saw great potential to reinvigorate the market on a proven product. The fact that the factory was located in the beautiful Upper Peninsula was certainly appealing to me too.”
Looking to the future, Wade envisions establishing a solid foundation for Enstrom’s continued success, optimizing processes and procedures, and investing in strategic improvements to expand Enstrom’s reach.
“Our helicopters have become a staple in several niche markets, and we have an amazing opportunity to significantly ramp up production,” said Wade. “I look forward to the many customer interactions we will have as we begin a regular production schedule. Working as a team, we will overcome any challenge we might face together.”
Wade has eight children and four grandchildren. When not at work, Wade enjoys spending time with his family, whether that be visiting the family cabin or taking part in the many outdoor activities Menominee has to offer. He also loves working with his hands, practicing his woodworking skills, and spending time in the shop.
About Enstrom Helicopter
From Rudy Enstrom’s early designs in 1943 to initial testing in a Michigan Quarry in 1957 to aircraft operating on six continents, Enstrom Helicopter Corporation has maintained a reputation for safety, value and performance. Based in Menominee, Michigan and proudly made in the United States, Enstrom has a rich history for design innovation. The goal is to provide helicopters to the customer’s exact specification and deliver support and maintenance worldwide.