Q&A with Dan

Dan is a key account manager for Radiall in the United States, focusing on the aerospace market.

Q.Can you tell us more about your role at Radiall?

A.My role at Radiall is multifaceted. My title is Key Account Manager but in order to manage my accounts, it requires that I be involved in the design process, the pricing and order placement process as well as following up with production and handling any quality issue that arises.

Q.What interested you about the aerospace industry and when did this interest begin?

A.Since I was a kid, I have loved the F4 Phantom. Pardo’s Push is probably my favorite story about the F4. My father spent 24 years in the airline industry, so my brother and I have been around airplanes our entire life. As kids, we took numerous trips to the EEA Oshkosh fly-in so I believe it was 1989 when I saw the SR71 Blackbird at Oshkosh, I was hooked.

Q.What do you enjoy most about your work?

A.I love my customers! They make this job interesting, exciting, fascinating and offer a welcome challenge, all at the same time. Working with my customers to solve a design problem is the most rewarding part of my job.

Q.What is a typical day like for you at Radiall?

A.A typical day for me includes a handful of conference calls and zoom meetings, answering email and phone calls with my customers. I typically have quite a bit of interaction with my Inside Sales Representative discussing quotes and any pending issues. I also have internal meetings with Radiall Business Units to discuss ongoing developments or production issues.

Q.Since 2020, the aerospace industry has seen a downturn. What trends have you noticed in the industry with a return to normal after the last few years?

A. In the business jet market segment, the downturn was less severe than the civil aerospace segment. What we have seen from covid is that there is a stronger demand for business jets. I believe that not just with my customers but across the board the demand for business jets are at an all-time high.

From the customer's point of view, I believe they are paying much closer attention to their supplier base. We are seeing increased communication with the purchasing teams and we are seeing them address issues such as late deliveries much sooner than they have in the past.

We also see a significant interest in new technology. The status quo is no longer good enough. We are seeing design efforts that focus on eliminating old technology in an effort to find a better solution.

Q.Where do you see the aerospace industry going in the next 5 years? What advancements are you most excited about?

A.Over the next five years, the aerospace industry is likely to continue its trend towards more sustainable and eco-friendly aviation solutions. Electric and hybrid-electric aircraft, as well as hydrogen-powered planes, are becoming increasingly popular as more countries, companies and airlines commit to reducing their carbon footprint.

The development of supersonic passenger jets, such as Boom Supersonic's Overture and Spike Aerospace's S-512, is also an area of excitement and potential growth for the industry. These aircraft promise to dramatically reduce flight times, allowing passengers to travel between cities in just a few hours.

Another area of advancement that is exciting for the industry is the development of autonomous drones and air taxis. Companies like Airbus, Boeing and Uber are investing heavily in this technology, and it is expected that autonomous aircraft will revolutionize the transportation industry by providing faster and more efficient travel options.

Finally, the aerospace industry is also likely to see significant advancements in space exploration and travel over the next five years. Companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic are leading the way in this area, with ambitious plans to send humans to Mars and beyond. The development of reusable rockets and space vehicles is also expected to make space travel more accessible and affordable in the coming years.

Overall, there are many exciting advancements and developments to look forward to in the aerospace industry over the next five years, and it will be fascinating to see how these technologies evolve and shape the future of air and space travel.

Q.What's the best advice you have for people wanting to pursue a career in this field?

A.Be passionate about what you do. You have got to love it to be successful long term. The most successful sales professionals love to win by solving your customer's problems, not just selling them something.

Q.What’s been the proudest moment in your career thus far?

A.Winning Supplier of the Year from Gulfstream Aerospace was a great moment for me, along with the rest of the Radiall team that made it possible.