ABOUT US

GET TO KNOW OUR TEAM

With experience spanning over the past 40 years, the Trans Aero Ltd team brings a varied and vast knowledge of the rotorcraft industry to all operation and maintenance services.

Mr. Kevin Shields

President

Kevin Shields has 43 years of aviation experience with 41 years in leadership roles in support of helicopter air ambulance and utility flight operations along with helicopter maintenance operations. Kevin has established two FAA Repair stations, a European Repair Station (EASA) (Sweden), and previously held the positions of mechanic, shop foreman, chief inspector, general manager, and vice president. He is currently President of Trans Aero Limited. Kevin holds an FAA mechanic certificate and has in the past held FAA designee positions of IA and ODAR.

Mr. Matthew Goertz

Director of Operations

Matthew Goertz has nearly 20 years of commercial helicopter operations experience, and has been a pilot with Trans Aero for the last 11 years. Mr. Goertz started as a line pilot with Trans Aero and has held the positions of Assistant Chief Pilot and Chief Pilot. Mr. Goertz is an instructor and Check Pilot in the AS350 and USFS carded in the AS350, UH-1H, and BH 205.

Ms. Elizabeth Seymour

Director of Safety

Elizabeth Seymour has been a pilot with Trans Aero for nearly 6 years, and accepted a promotion in 2018 to become the Director of Safety. Ms. Seymour brings 20 years of aviation experience to Trans Aero’s management team, including 16 years as a commercial pilot. Ms. Seymour’s experience includes: tour operations, seismic, fire, and power line patrol. Ms. Seymour has a formal education in aviation, including a Bachelor of Science from Embry Riddle in Aeronautics with a minor in Aviation Safety. Ms. Seymour maintains a USFS card to act as a pilot in the AS350, UH-1H, as well as a CFI and CFII. Ms. Seymour has been instrumental in the development of Trans Aero’s safety programs, and is continually working to ensure that crew members have all the needed tools to ensure safe operations.

Mr. Daniel Valentin

Chief Pilot

Daniel Valentin holds an FAA ATP certificate along with CFI and CFII certificates. Daniel brings over 16 years of aviation experience including: Helicopter Air Ambulance, Offshore, and SAR (Search and Rescue). Daniel has also previously held Chief Pilot and Chief Flight Instructor positions. Mr. Valentin brings a significant depth of experience to Trans Aero, including nighttime overwater rescue operations. Mr. Valentin is currently an NVG instructor and FAA-approved NVG check pilot.

Mr. Brian Joyner

Director of Maintenance

Brian Joyner started his 25-year career in aviation as a Sikorsky CH-53E air crewman and mechanic in the United States Marine Corps. He completed 3 overseas deployments, 2 in support of both Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Post-military service, he received an FAA airframe and power plant mechanics certification. He continued conducting helicopter maintenance as a technical inspector with a defense contractor in Iraq. The last 16 years of his career were spent at a construction/heavy lift operator, where he worked as a mechanic and crew chief during thousands of Part 133 external load operations. Construction lift work, fire, and Part 135 operations were some of the missions conducted with the Sikorsky S-58T. As a mechanic, he has performed dynamic component overhauls, major structural repairs, and equipment upgrade installations, from initial drawings through the final installation approval process, under the Part 145 Repair Station. In 2021, he was promoted to Director of Maintenance. He also held the title of Chief Inspector and managed all functions of the maintenance department under the Part 145 repair station. Mr. Joyner joined Trans Aero Limited as the Director of Maintenance in November of 2024.