Meet
Mike Hancuch

Mike brings more than 30 years of aviation industry experience to helping airlines and aviation organizations solve complex challenges, improve performance, and operate more efficiently.

As Principal and Founder of White Hawk Services, Mike draws on a career spanning finance, supply chain, maintenance programs, production control, technical services, and maintenance planning. He has held leadership roles at American Airlines, Delta, Northwest, Sun Country, Wheels Up, and Endeavor Air, and has consulted with mainline, regional, and private aviation operators.

Mike's strength is seeing the big picture without losing sight of the details. He has a knack for simplifying complex problems, identifying practical solutions, and bringing people together to make meaningful improvements. His approach combines sound business judgment, operational expertise, and a focus on accountability—helping organizations reduce costs, strengthen performance, and build processes that last.

Outside the Office

When he's not working in aviation, Mike is happiest outdoors. He and his wife live on a 60-acre farm west of Minneapolis, where he enjoys growing Christmas trees, restoring the land, and waging a battle against buckthorn he intends to win. Nature is where he finds peace, balance, and perspective.

Experience

Trusted by Industry Leaders

“Mike has an innate understanding of operational drivers and how to effectively maximize asset utilization and labor efficiencies as requirements change. He is proficient at defining and improving process flow and collaboratively leads efforts that balance reliability, performance, and cost.”

Paul Wroble - VP Tech Ops at Sun Country Airlines

“Mike is gifted at simplifying complex technical and business issues and keenly understands the financial implications behind decision-making.”

John Landherr - C-Level Executive & Board Member Driving Growth

“…faced with a labor strike, a bankruptcy, a merger and numerous other minor crises. Throughout these tumultuous times, Mike always remained a steady hand, focused on the challenges ahead. He has built effective teams and calmly led them to accomplish great things. He has a positive attitude that is infectious to all the people around him and I highly recommend him in his future endeavors.”

Kris Bauer – Airline Advisor/Consultant

Experience in Action

  • Project Management & Operational Assessment

    “White Hawk Services has helped us successfully navigate through several initiatives. At US Airways, Mike led an interior first class reconfiguration initiative, involving three separate regional carriers. Despite many obstacles and a tight timeline, Mike successfully implemented on-time and under budget. And while at PSA Airlines, Mike conducted an in-depth assessment of our maintenance planning, scheduling, and production areas. Providing detailed gap analysis against industry best in class standards and developed a list of actionable strategies, by impact and effort. Highly effective and would recommend White Hawk Services for your most challenging projects and initiatives.”

    Dion Flannery – CEO & President at PSA Airlines

  • Process Optimization

    “While at Southwest Airlines, as Sr. Business Consultant of Optimization, Mike was brought in to activate several key initiatives. Mike’s leadership, knowledge, and insights were instrumental in the success in the development of an aircraft maintenance requirement management application. The software application simplified and standardized the frontend readiness process that ensured all regulatory and requested aircraft initiatives/ program tasks were optimally reviewed and set up technically and for planning purposes into MX System for execution. The process was large and complex. The application improved efficiencies and effectiveness across all departments, properly set up initiatives that reduced task revisions and deferrals and established a system to retrieve status on projects at all stages from idea to completion. I highly recommend Mike for making your most complex and challenging initiatives a reality.”

    Dacia Tarleton – Aerospace & Defense, McKinsey & Company

  • Inventory Management & Analysis

    “White Hawk Services was contracted to develop a business case and provide an inventory management recommendation, for regional airline provider. The analysis included an in-depth review of internal processes, current and projected staffing levels, warehousing and inventory requirements, and component repair cost analysis. WHS modeled various alternatives with varying sensitivities. The knowledge and expertise WHS brought forth was top notch. They quickly grasped the complex issues and effectively worked with and collaborated within our organization. I would highly recommend their services and have the highest confidence they have the capability to tackle any challenge facing companies operating in very competitive and lean market.”

    Doug Picken – GM Supply Chain Management – Delta Airlines

Let’s get started!