A Leading Service Provider for Robinson Helicopters
A Leading Service Provider for Robinson Helicopters
More Than Five Decades of Helicopter Maintenance Experience
A Learning Service Provider for
Robinson Helicopters
Welcome
Prairie Air Inc. is the Midwest’s most popular and respected Robinson Helicopter Service Center located in Central Minnesota. Our team has a combined 50+ years of experience in repairing Robinson and Bell helicopters and is committed to providing unsurpassed reliability, responsibility, and quality for all our customers.
Our goal is to foster long-term relationships with our customers based on our high-quality workmanship, trust, and integrity. While we are well known in the Midwest for our maintenance, we house an extensive inventory of Robinson helicopter parts and we have the capabilities to ship worldwide.
You can count on the Prairie Air team for your next scheduled maintenance, parts supply, unexpected field needs, or pre-buy inspection. We have the experience, desire, and resources to ensure your helicopter needs go as smoothly and quickly as possible.
Prairie Air Inc. is a dynamic company owned and operated by Joe and Laura LaRue. Together, they have built Prairie Air Inc. to be known and trusted for providing the Midwest’s aviation industry with high-quality solutions for all their needs. Joe and Laura founded Prairie Air Inc. in 2005, and the company has been Robinson Helicopter Certified since 2006.
Joe’s love of aviation started growing up in the breadbasket of the US – agriculture-rich Central Minnesota. From getting his pilot's license as a young teen to working with local farmers spraying crops throughout high school, it became evident that Joe’s career should follow the aviation course.
Joe was employed with Columbia Helicopters (CHI) and traveled the US, gaining valuable experience on most major helicopter airframes and engines. As the founder and Director of Maintenance at Prairie Air for the past 13 years, Joe is familiar with and gained expertise in a varied and diverse range of aircraft.
Laura’s work as co-founder of Prairie Air Inc. is the other half to Joe’s mechanical skill. While this is more behind-the-scenes, the professionalism and quality of daily operations is a direct result of Laura’s management. Laura has also tackled the executive management tasks required to guide Prairie Air Inc. in reaching milestones for this rapidly growing company.
Joe and Laura LaRue
Prairie Air Team
A/P Mechanic
Benjamin Felling
Ben is the backbone of Prairie Air’s maintenance team. He grew up on a dairy in Central MN. He was infected with the aviation bug at a young age on his father’s knee when his father would sing “Those Magnificent Men and Their Flying Machines” before bedtime.
He graduated from Northland Technical in Thief River Falls, MN with his A&P, AET, and UAS certifications. He has since earned his private pilot license, and he is preparing for his IA certification.
A/P Mechanic
Andrew Holmes
Andrew’s attention to detail, leadership skills, and strong work ethic are a vital part of our team. Andrew’s aviation path began when he felt called to be a missionary pilot. He traveled to Nairobi, Kenya to follow that calling. When he returned to the States, Andrew attained his AMT degree and A/P certification in 2014 from Northland Technical. He is currently working towards his private pilot license.
A/P Apprentice
Zach Cole
Zach is a complete joy to have in the shop. He always shows up with a smile and greets everyone with a warm welcome. He is currently employed at Prairie Air Inc. as an A/P apprentice and is actively preparing to take his A/P certification test in late 2018.
Pilot and A/P Apprentice
Andrew Asleson
Andrew is a professional pilot for Carlson Ag Air during the Ag season. In the winter months, Andrew assists us with all our pilot needs and is working towards his A/P certification.