Dispatch Aviation is a tech-savvy crew that loves flying planes, but our true passion is getting up every day to work on them. We genuinely care about the owners, the pilots, and the passengers of the airplanes we serve. Our crew has a long history of performing safety-enhancing service and repairs that deliver more performance, increased reliability, and limit aircraft downtime for both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance.
One Crew
One Commitment
We keep you flying
Personal Touch
At Dispatch Aviation, we not only want to provide you with the best aircraft maintenance; we want you to feel like we’ve gone above and beyond to exceed your expectations. For our crew, this is more than our commitment to providing the highest level of customer service; it’s about going the extra mile. We operate on principles of safety, integrity, and fairness. We pride ourselves on giving our customers that personal touch with the service and maintenance of their aircraft.
About Us
Larry Woodson
Director of Maintenance –
A&P Mechanic, IA
Growing up in Fordyce, Arkansas—Larry began flying in airplanes before he could even comprehend a fear of flying. He grew up being in and around planes and has spent his entire career in the aviation industry. Larry inherited his love for aircraft from his father; his dad flew a Comanche 250. His grandfather built the first airport in Fordyce, Arkansas, which is still in operation today.
Larry truly enjoys the variety of work he experiences from one day to the next and the fact that he gets to be around airplanes every day. As Director of Maintenance and Chief Inspector with over 45 years of experience, Larry exemplifies the Dispatch Aviation commitment to excellence in aviation maintenance and is key to our rapid growth and continuing success.
Smith Thomas
Owner –
Dispatch Aviation
J. Smith Thomas is the sole principal of Dispatch Aviation. Smith has had a vested partnership or owned businesses for nearly his entire professional career. His true passions are avionics and technology. So when Smith realized he could mix his love for flying with technology and bring a much-needed service to customers, it became his ultimate goal. Smith’s expertise includes aviation service and maintenance, IT networking, logistics, and business management consulting.
Through education at the New Mexico Military Institute and time served in the U.S. Army, Thomas learned the value of dedication, service, and giving back to the community. In addition to owner management, Smith donates countless hours and resources as a pilot for cancer patients through aviation charitable organizations.
Tribute to Sid Ford
Aviation Maintenance Technician
Dispatch Aviation is saddened by the passing of Sid Ford. Born and raised in Denham Springs, LA, Sid is legendary in the aviation industry. He began his aviation career in 1966 and had well over 55 years of airplane mechanics under his belt. Sid joined the United States Marine Corps, where he learned avionics engineering and specialized in hydraulics.
As a core part of our crew, Sid always ensured that every maintenance repair was completed on time, on budget, and to the highest industry standards. His knowledge, passion, success, honesty, and integrity made a great impact throughout the aviation community.
Sid will remain much loved and missed by everyone here at Dispatch and remembered as one of the industry’s “good guys”. We will miss him personally and professionally.
Pure
Passion
The moment J. Smith Thomas realized he could mix his passion for flying with technology and bring a much-needed service to customers, that became his goal. None of us like paying more than we have to for aircraft repairs and maintenance. Aircraft costs are high enough without having to fly 100’s of miles only to land at a shop with shady service. That’s why our crew came together. Dispatch Aviation takes the stress out of owning an airplane and keeping it running smoothly by providing quality repairs and maintenance. Discover how easy it is to maintain your aircraft with our experienced crew!
Our technicians are an honest, hardworking, tech-savvy crew who will take care of your aircraft like it was their own.
J. Smith Thomas