APECS Aerospace/About
The engineer behind APECS
Peter A. Stonefield — BSAE ’89 (University of Kansas), MBA ’02 (Pepperdine University). Aerospace engineer, FAA Designated Engineering Representative, and founder of the APECS Aerospace Group. Hands-on experience from the piece-part level to the total vehicle, across commercial and military aircraft, helicopters, UAS, and both crewed and uncrewed space vehicles.
Patriots Point, January 2018 — dedicating the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument as Executive Director of the Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation.
The short version
From the launch pad to the flight line
Peter started his career in 1989 on the Space Shuttle fleet at Kennedy Space Center — first in Quality, then in Main Propulsion System Engineering — where he developed engineering and inspection procedures used to reduce shuttle turnaround time. From there: senior engineer at Trans World Airlines, then FAA repair stations, where the work expanded into business development and marketing. He was responsible for opening the Mainland Chinese market for several companies — among the first to begin repair development activities there.
In July 2007 he founded Asia-Pacific Engineering Consulting Services, LLC to put that whole range of experience — repair development, regulatory support, modification management, and aviation business development — behind one door. As an FAA-DER he is authorized to develop and approve major repairs and alterations on a wide range of platforms, from general aviation to combat aircraft.
A career in five chapters
Space Shuttle fleet
Quality, then Main Propulsion System Engineering. Developed several integral engineering and inspection procedures used to reduce shuttle turnaround time — including work on the liquid hydrogen leak investigation for Columbia, recognized with multiple commendations.
Senior Powerplant Engineer
Responsible for the electrical power generating system across TWA’s front-line fleet. Wrote hundreds of operational specifications, modifications, and repairs under 14 CFR Part 121 — the years where his craft as a repair development engineer was honed.
Engineering meets the market
Technical support, PMA development, and worldwide technical sales at Wencor West; then Chief Engineer and VP of Engineering and Business Development at Aircraft Component Repair — writing hundreds of unique repairs and leading all EASA, CAAS, and CAAC interaction.
First through the door
Responsible for opening the Mainland Chinese market for several companies — one of the first to begin aviation repair development activities there, building the Asia-Pacific network APECS still runs on.
Founder, APECS Aerospace Group
Created Asia-Pacific Engineering Consulting Services, LLC for the expressed purpose of providing total support: engineering, business planning and development, regulatory and quality assurance, and sales and marketing — now a global team spanning ten cities.
Service beyond the shop
Boards, committees, and causes Peter supports.
- Executive Director, Hershel “Woody” Williams Medal of Honor Foundation — led the placement of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument at Patriots Point, dedicated January 27, 2018
- Board — America’s Mighty Warriors
- Board — Camp Happy Days (Kids Kickin’ Cancer)
- Board — The South Carolina Aquarium
- Sponsor — Military Appreciation Night, South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL)
Off the clock: family time with Anna and their three sons, golf, sport fishing, and Stingrays hockey. He’s also a tinkerer — holder of US Patent #9,511,482 with several more pending. See what he builds.
Clients & employers along the way
A broad range of organizations have relied on Peter’s work.
Current delegations
| Area | Scope |
|---|---|
| Powerplant installations | 14 CFR Part 25 — major repair data for powerplant and APU components: hydraulic, fuel, mechanical, pneumatic; thrust reverser components; CSD and IDG components; air starters |
| Cabin safety / mechanical | 14 CFR Part 25 — landing gear and major repair data for hydraulic, pneumatic, and mechanical cabin safety components |
