Arthur C. Giessman

A. C. "Butch" Giessman was born August 30, 1949 in St. Ann, Missouri. Growing up in the family grocery store, Giessman’s Market, he got the nickname “Little Butch” since his father and brothers were meat cutters.

Butch was best known as the founder of AVMATS. What began as a surplus aviation parts sales business in his basement grew into a diverse company under his leadership, with locations in Chesterfield, Missouri (Spirit of St. Louis Airport); O’Fallon, Missouri; and Mascoutah, Illinois (MidAmerica Airport).

A 1971 graduate of Parks College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering, Butch started his career at Rockwell International as an A&P Technician; Project Engineer on the Sabreliner 40A Program; and Service Manager in charge of all aircraft maintenance. In 1974 he left Rockwell to develop the Technical Services and Maintenance Department of Midcoast Aviation. Seeing a growing need for improved aviation parts availability and more reasonably priced proprietary items, Butch left Midcoast Aviation to start AVMATS. Butch was a pioneer in the concept of purchasing and dismantling airworthy and undamaged corporate aircraft to support the existing fleet of Sabreliner aircraft and later Falcon, Hawker, and many other corporate aircraft.

Since the formation of AVMATS in 1978, Butch has employed some of the most highly skilled mechanics and technical experts in the aviation industry today and has developed three separate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Certified Repair Stations.

Butch was a member of PAMA (Professional Aviation Maintenance Association) since 1973, serving 10 years on its Board of Directors and 2 years as elected President, establishing the first PAMA National Headquarters in St. Ann, Missouri, where it stayed in operation until its move to Washington, D.C. in 1995. Similarly, he was a member of NBAA (National Business Aviation Association) for over 40 years.

In recognition of his accomplishments, Butch received the Central Region Technician of the Year Award from the FAA in both 1982 and 1996 and was selected as the FAA 2000 National Maintenance Technician of the Year. He held an Airframe and Powerplant License, an Inspector Authorization, Private Pilot’s License and served as an FAA safety counselor, promoting safety in general aviation. Furthermore, the FAA considered Butch the leading expert on bogus parts, as well as military surplus aircraft parts. He gave numerous speeches to both the FAA and public on these subjects.

Butch served on the Board of Directors for Wings of Hope. This charitable organization provides medical assistance, emergency evacuation, and life sustaining support to people domestically and globally.

Biography