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Gail Holguin, COOIn 2016, National Aero Stands purchased Stands on Demand (founded in 2010) and grew rapidly by addressing a critical industry need: providing flexible, cost-effective access to high-quality engine transportation stands. Today, NAS supports airlines, MROs, and engine leasing companies worldwide, offering innovative solutions that eliminate the complexities of engine stand ownership.
NAS was born from a simple but powerful realization: the aviation industry needed a partner solely dedicated to engine stand leasing. While some companies offered stands as part of a broader range of services, none had truly specialized in meeting this specific need.
“Our founder saw an opportunity to fill that gap by creating a company that not only provided well-maintained equipment but also offered expert technical support and comprehensive services,” says Gail Holguin, COO of National Aero Stands. “That vision has driven our company’s success over the past decade, allowing us to grow from a small operation into an industry leader with a global presence.”
Offering Tailored Solutions
A key factor in NAS’s success is its ability to provide tailored, customer-centric solutions. Unlike companies that focus solely on selling equipment, NAS offers a leasing model that is both flexible and cost-efficient.
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Our founder saw an opportunity to fill that gap by creating a company that not only provided well-maintained equipment but also offered expert technical support and comprehensive services
For airlines, MROs, and engine leasing companies, this approach eliminates the need for significant capital expenditures and reduces the operational burdens of owning engine stands. Instead of dealing with storage, maintenance, or asset depreciation, customers can simply lease the equipment they need, exactly when they need it.
This leasing model is particularly valuable in an industry where demand fluctuates due to seasonal changes, fleet adjustments, or unforeseen challenges. NAS ensures its clients have access to the right equipment at the right time, allowing them to scale their operations seamlessly. By sourcing engine stands exclusively from trusted manufacturers, the company guarantees that every piece of equipment meets rigorous industry standards for safety and performance.
In addition to engine stands, NAS provides a comprehensive range of maintenance accessories, including bootstrap kits, tooling, transfer beams, and slings. The company also operates a full-service maintenance facility, offering repairs and refurbishments to keep all equipment in peak condition. This end-to-end support allows clients to focus on their core operations while NAS takes care of the details.
Staying Ahead of Industry Trends
The aviation industry is constantly evolving, and NAS has demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt to its changing demands. A standout example of this adaptability was the company’s response to the challenges associated with Pratt & Whitney’s GTF (Geared Turbofan) engines. These engines, while innovative, experienced significant operational and maintenance issues early in their lifecycle. As airlines and MROs scrambled to manage increased engine removals and repair cycles, demand for GTF transportation stands surged.
Recognizing this trend early, NAS took decisive action to ensure it could meet the growing demand. The company placed large orders with OEM-approved manufacturers, securing a steady supply of GTF stands and positioning itself as a reliable partner for its customers during a critical time.
This proactive approach not only cemented NAS’s reputation as an industry leader but also underscored its commitment to anticipating and addressing customer needs.
A Global Network for Global Clients
One of NAS’s defining strengths is its ability to serve customers worldwide. The company has established a robust global network, with strategically located inventory in the United States, the Netherlands, Dubai, Shanghai, and Singapore. This geographical reach allows NAS to deliver engine stands quickly and efficiently, minimizing downtime for its clients.
“Whether it’s an airline in Asia, an MRO in Europe, or a leasing company in North America, we have the infrastructure to provide reliable support wherever it’s needed,” says Holguin.
Building this global network required more than logistical expertise—it also required a deep understanding of the aviation industry’s complexities. NAS has invested heavily in forging strong relationships with manufacturers and logistics providers, ensuring its operations run smoothly and its customers receive consistent, high-quality service.
The Human Element
Behind NAS’s technical capabilities is a team of dedicated professionals who bring decades of experience to the table. Holguin, a veteran of the aviation industry with 30 years of experience, has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s success. Her approach is rooted in a simple principle: know your customer.
By understanding clients’ fleets, maintenance locations, and specific requirements, she and her team have built a solutions portfolio that truly meets the needs of the industry.
Holguin emphasizes the importance of continuous evaluation and improvement: “Regular meetings with the operations team, combined with insights from NAS’s utilization report system, help ensure that our processes remain efficient and aligned with safety standards. This commitment to excellence has enabled us to grow our inventory to over 300 engine stands while maintaining the highest levels of quality and reliability.”
A Decade of Innovation and Growth
As NAS celebrates its 10th anniversary, it’s worth reflecting on how far the company has come. From its beginnings as a small startup with a bold idea, NAS has grown into a global leader, setting the standard for engine stand leasing in the aviation industry.
The company’s success is a testament to its ability to balance innovation with practicality. By staying ahead of industry trends, investing in its global network, and maintaining a relentless focus on customer satisfaction, NAS has positioned itself as a trusted partner for some of the biggest names in aviation.
What sets NAS apart is not just its technical expertise or impressive inventory—it’s the people behind the company and their commitment to excellence. As NAS looks ahead to its next decade, one thing is clear: the company will continue to set the gold standard for engine stand leasing, supporting the aviation industry with the same passion and innovation that have defined its first nine years.
Choosing Aircraft Engine Transportation Stands for Aviation Readiness
Selecting the appropriate carrying stand for an aircraft engine is critical to maintaining aircraft readiness. Engines move through rigorous maintenance, storage, lease return and redeployment processes. For MROs, airlines and engine leasing companies, carrying stands are a key component of these activities and play an important role in supporting re-entry into service. The right stand can influence turnaround times (TAT), asset protection, shop-floor coordination and planning efficiency. This becomes particularly important when fleet events accelerate and rapid stand availability is required. A well-selected and properly utilized stand can remove operational friction and support smoother maintenance workflows.
While it may make sense to buy stands for stable, recurrent programs, ownership locks up capital while the equipment is not in use due to maintenance. Additionally, responsibility for storage, inspection, repairs, certification and coordination of logistics shifts to the owner. Complications rise significantly if the fleet's engines are different, maintenance is decentralized by region or if demand suddenly increases due to equipment unreliability, seasonality, or unexpected pull-outs. This business risk, equipment availability, must therefore be viewed by executives as a supply chain, not a procurement issue.
The stand partner must be technically capable and flexible. While leasing can align costs with actual usage, it is only effective if the provider maintains a broad inventory and has reliable processes for timely delivery. Low lease rates offer little value if the stand is incompatible, poorly maintained or cannot be moved efficiently to the required maintenance location. Given the diversity of engine fleets, working with a provider that understands engine families, transportation requirements and asset movement between locations can help ensure operational efficiency and reliability.
Geographic footprint is another factor. Aircraft engines are not shifted based on a favorable schedule; they must depart on the whim of the shop, depending on the needs of an aircraft or a lessor. Proximity of stand locations to major hubs shortens turnaround times and simplifies transport logistics. The buyer will thus select an engine support facility that offers both short-term work and ongoing maintenance, in exceptional coordination with both the OEM and the transportation industry.
Safety and control remain very important. The engine stands take costly material through unsafe territories; one slip-up and costly delays can follow. The provider can be defined by their ability to test, repair and maintain the engines as per their manufacturing requirements. Access to the proper tools is as important as access to available stands when maintaining or transporting the engines; hence, the correct provider is not the firm that can locate and access the stands. Instead, the provider that has all of their equipment located, accounted for, and in perfect condition is the correct provider.
Smartly choosing to skip the cost and liability of ownership, National Aero Stands serves executives needing aircraft engine stands and equipment for transport. They offer both short and long-term stand rentals to airlines, MROs, and engine leasing companies. The leasing company offers a fleet exceeding 300 stands and assistance from 7 worldwide locations, enabling them to fulfill both buyer requirements, including the lease of OEM-certified stands and rapid engine movement, while meeting safety standards. Additionally, they offer global support, including maintenance, repair and accessory availability. National Aero Stands meets the cost and reliability needs of businesses aiming for cost management.
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Company
National Aero Stands (NAS)
Management
Gail Holguin, COO
Description
National Aero Stands (NAS) has carved out a niche as a trusted leader in the Aircraft Engine Transportation Stands (AETS) space. Today, NAS supports airlines, MROs, and engine leasing companies across the globe, offering innovative solutions that eliminate the complexity of engine stand ownership.
