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The Minot Aero Center (Pietsch Aircraft Restoration and Repair) has been serving corporate and general aviation from around the world since 1952!
The Minot Aero Center is a locally owned & operated business. It was founded in 1952 by Alfred Pietsch offering crop spraying and flight instruction.
In the mid 1950’s, Alfred began selling Mooney aircraft and the business became an Authorized Mooney Service Center. We proudly continue to be the only Authorized Mooney Service Center in North Dakota.
In 2009, Warren Pietsch partnered with Brian Sturm to expand the business to a full-service fixed base operation (FBO). After 9 years, they sold the maintenance department and flight department portions of the business to Jay Blessum.
Jay was hired as an A&P mechanic by the original owner, Alfred Pietsch in 1990. Not only did Alfred hire Jay as an A&P mechanic, he was also the flight instructor who signed Jay off to take his check ride for his private pilot certificate. Jay was employed at the Minot Aero Center for 28 years as an A&P/IA before purchasing the Minot Aero Center.
Over the years, Jay expanded his experience and learned the business of aerial application. He was a spray pilot for 13 years while working part-time as an A&P/IA in the off-season at the Minot Aero Center. He flew various models of Air Tractor and Thrush. He gained important knowledge and the training necessary to provide maintenance on those aircraft. With this firsthand knowledge, he was able to grow the business to include PT6 maintenance as one of the services that we provide at the Minot Aero Center.
The business has grown into a full-service shop providing quality maintenance for our customers as well as on call maintenance. We also provide flight instruction (private pilot; instrument; commercial; certificated flight instructor; certificated flight instructor instrument; multi-engine rating; multi-engine instructor; tailwheel; and complex.) You can get everything accomplished including knowledge and practical testing right here at the Minot Aero Center.
We offer many aviation services to cater to your needs. Our pilots provide services to our customers who have access to their own aircraft. We also provide services to pilots who are looking for an aircraft to rent. We offer a diverse fleet of Cessna 172s, Piper Warriors, a Piper Seneca, a Mooney, and a Citabria. Additionally, we have computer assisted FAA airman knowledge testing.
