Episode 105: From Alaska Flying to Aviation Safety Leadership | Mike Kunkel - Part I

Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast , brought to you by HeliCASTS and in partnership with Vertical Plus . In this episode, Ronnie sits down with Mike Kunkel, safety management system program manager at PG&E , to discuss his path through aviation and the experiences that shaped his approach to safety leadership. The conversation begins with Mike’s early flying experiences in Alaska and his time supporting law enforcement aviation operations, offering a firsthand look at the operational environments, decision-making, and responsibilities that come with mission-driven flying. As the discussion develops, Mike shares how those experiences influenced his perspective on aviation safety, communication, and organizational culture. For operators, maintainers, and aviation professionals, Part I provides a grounded look at the real-world operational background behind today’s conversations around safety management and just culture. Special thanks to this episode's sponsors, Precision Aviation Group and Robinson Helicopter . Also, be sure to check out Vertical MRO's Instagram channel for even more awesome content highlighting the awesome work being done to keep the rotorcraft community flying!