VINEMONT, Ala. – With gleaming turboprops parked behind them and a packed hangar cheering them on, Martin Aviation, LLC officially opened the doors to its new aircraft maintenance facility at Cullman Regional Airport – Folsom Field Thursday morning.
The grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony, hosted in partnership with the Cullman Regional Airport Authority and the Cullman Economic Development Agency, drew local leaders, aviation professionals, Martin Aviation’s team and community members.
Jamie Troutman, executive director of the Cullman Economic Development Agency, welcomed the crowd and kicked off the program, which featured remarks from Martin Aviation Owner Chris Martin, local officials, Cullman Regional Airport Director Ben Harrison and Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs. Afterward, guests toured the new facility during an open house with light refreshments.
The 13,000-square-foot facility will offer aircraft maintenance and inspection services for jet and turboprop aircraft, filling a need for turbine maintenance right on the field.
“Folsom Field plays a huge role in supporting the growing industry in central Alabama,” Martin said in a press release. “By bringing turbine maintenance to the field, we are able to keep both visitors and locals moving through the airport without worries of being stuck due to a maintenance issue.”
‘A fantastic maintenance facility’
Harrison thanked the airport’s staff for handling day-to-day operations and fuel needs, saying the day wouldn’t have been possible without them.
He also shared a lighthearted story about first meeting Martin years ago, when Martin was a young man spending plenty of time at the airport skydiving. Harrison joked that when Martin took his helmet off, his hair looked like Doc Brown’s from “Back to the Future.” Over time, Harrison said, he came to understand just how deep the Martin family’s roots run in aviation.
“I’m so happy that you’ve chosen this location to set up this fantastic maintenance facility,” Harrison told the Martins. He thanked everyone who had a hand in bringing the facility together and said he looks forward to the airport’s continued growth.
In the press release, Harrison called Martin Aviation’s investment “an exciting addition to our airport and the aviation community in North Alabama.”
“Having turbine aircraft maintenance services available on-site will enhance the level of service we can offer pilots and aircraft operators while supporting the continued growth of our airport,” he said. “We’re proud to welcome Chris Martin and his team to Cullman County and look forward to the positive impact this facility will have on our local economy and the next generation of aviation professionals.”
Jacobs, who chairs the city-county Airport Board, pointed to the cooperation behind the project. The airport is jointly owned, and Jacobs said the city and county share in its projects.
“If you’re going to use the word teamwork, we mean it around here,” Jacobs said.
From family flights to 19 states
A corporate pilot who grew up in a flying family, Martin first began performing aircraft maintenance as a way to help family and friends with their own flying.
“I have two kids, so I want the people I care about to feel safe flying their families,” Martin said. “I never intended for Martin Aviation to grow to this level. We are fortunate to be surrounded by clients and supporters who recognize our quality, and our purpose for doing this. It’s hard work, but it’s rewarding.”
Martin Aviation, which Martin owns with his wife, Cheris, opened at Scottsboro Municipal Airport in 2018. Since then, the company has built a client list spanning 19 states and is recognized as a Textron Large MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) facility. Its services include full-service maintenance and inspections, jet and turbine engine maintenance, avionics, nondestructive testing, pre-purchase evaluations, paint and interior repair and maintenance tracking, and the company specializes in Beechcraft King Air aircraft.
The Martins’ ties to Cullman go back years. When officials broke ground on the project in August 2024, Martin recalled that he and his wife became frequent visitors to the Cullman airport about 12 years earlier.
Building a local pipeline
Martin Aviation plans to keep both its Scottsboro and Cullman locations running, and Martin said the area’s community colleges are a big reason why.
“As we get established in Cullman, we look forward to partnering with Wallace State Community College and supporting its aviation program,” Martin said. “The Martin Aviation Cullman manager is a graduate of Snead State, so we understand the important role the community colleges play in training young mechanics. It really makes me proud that we are doing something here that will allow young people to have quality jobs without having to travel away from home.”
Learn more
For more information about Martin Aviation, call 256-599-7948 or visit martinaviation.us.
Cullman Regional Airport Director Ben Harrison speaks during Thursday’s grand opening. (Krystal Corley for The Cullman Tribune)
Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs speaks during the ribbon cutting. (Krystal Corley for The Cullman Tribune)
Martin Aviation’s team and community leaders gather for a group photo inside the new hangar. (Krystal Corley for The Cullman Tribune)
