Chandler, Ariz.AvAir, a global leader in aviation inventory solutions and aftermarket services, announced the promotion of Tyler Botthof to chief operating officer, effective January 1.
“Tyler’s deep industry knowledge, hands-on experience across both sales and operations, and long-term commitment to AvAir make him exceptionally well-suited to lead our operations as Chief Operating Officer,” said Mike Bianco, CEO of AvAir.
Tyler Botthof, COO of AvAir
In this role, Botthof will oversee AvAir’s global operations, driving operational excellence, scalability, and strategic execution as the company continues to expand its footprint in the aviation aftermarket.
Botthof brings more than 24 years of dedicated service to AvAir. He began his career with the company in the warehouse, steadily working his way through a variety of sales and operational roles before most recently serving as Vice President of Operations. Throughout his tenure, he has played a key role in strengthening operational performance, optimizing supply-chain execution, and reinforcing AvAir’s reputation for reliability, speed, and customer service.
“I’m honored to step into the role of Chief Operating Officer,” said Botthof. “Having grown with AvAir from the warehouse to the executive team, I’m proud of what we’ve built together and excited to continue working alongside our talented team to support our customers and drive the company forward.”
AvAir, which celebrated its 25th year in 2025, offers customized solutions for customers and suppliers to buy, sell, exchange, loan, lease, or consign inventories with more than 26 million in-stock components. The company is ISO 9001, AS9120, and ASA 100 certified and adheres to the highest quality standards in all phases: purchasing, receiving, stocking, sales, and shipping.
Cybersecurity breaches in aviation have become more frequent, more sophisticated and often more costly. According to Thales, ransomware incidents in the aviation sector are up 600% over the course of a year. As digital systems continue to integrate into every layer of operations, from maintenance tracking to financial transactions, the risk is no longer theoretical.
For companies in the aviation industry, cybersecurity is not just an IT issue; it is a fundamental part of maintaining trust, operational stability and global service delivery.
Building A Strong Foundation
At AvAir, the company in the aviation aftermarket where I serve as vice president of operations, a recent encounter reinforced that reality. A high-value transaction was nearly compromised by illegitimate actors impersonating a client. While we quickly detected and disrupted the attempt, the incident served as a powerful reminder that cyber threats are always evolving, and so must our defenses.
Like many companies, we maintain a strong cybersecurity foundation built on best practices and proactive monitoring. But maintaining a foundation is not enough. Cybercriminals continuously adapt, and so must we. That is why it is important for companies to commit to regularly refreshing internal documentation, team training and statistical benchmarks.
We also look to organizations like IATA Aviation Cyber Threat eXchange and FAA-led directives to ensure that our cybersecurity measures are in line with industry standards. Outdated guidance can create a false sense of security. Accurate, current data enables sharper decision making and faster response times.
The Impact Of Cyberattacks
There are three areas that are typically affected by a cybersecurity incident: financial, operational and reputational.
Financial may include loss of revenue, incident cost response, ransom payment and more. The average cost of a data breach in the U.S. is $4.44 million. Operations can be affected by downtime, time to recover and damage to assets. And a company’s reputation within its industry, partnerships and clients can be affected by a cybersecurity incident.
Maintaining a commitment to high cybersecurity standards is especially crucial during periods of heightened vulnerability. During the holiday season, for example, cyberattacks may spike, driven by increased online activity, distracted employees and opportunistic attackers leveraging social engineering tactics, including social media. Newer employees, in particular, are often targets.
There are known groups, including Scattered Spider, that use techniques to bypass multifactor authentication, such as convincing help desk services to obtain access to compromised accounts. Without continuous education, those small cracks can quickly become open doors.
Cyber Hygiene
Basic cyber hygiene remains one of our most effective defenses. At the individual level, this includes following training protocols, identifying phishing red flags, never sharing passwords, locking devices when unattended and alerting IT teams immediately after a suspicious click or interaction. Business email compromises and phishing are dominant initial access techniques for cyber threats.
At the organizational level, creating a preparation roadmap helps ensure you stay vigilant. At my company, this roadmap includes five phases:
1. Assess
2. Plan and document
3. Remediate and implement
4. Validate and report
5. Monitor and maintain
Where applicable, companies should also follow the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation that went into effect in 2018.
The Importance Of Leadership And Culture
At the leadership level, leaders must treat cybersecurity as a long-term investment, not a one-time project. It is probably not a question of if your company will be targeted, but when.
I suggest organizations evaluate their risk tolerance and take steps to reduce both exposure and potential fallout. Proactive measures such as multifactor authentication, passkeys, geofencing, phishing simulation training, risky sign-in monitoring and real-time vulnerability remediation are essential. In our industry, even robust accounting protocols can serve as a frontline defense against fraudulent payments.
But cybersecurity is not just about systems; it is about culture. Creating an environment where teams understand both the risks and their individual role is just as important as deploying new software. It takes open communication, cross-departmental alignment and a willingness to stay humble and alert. At my company, we believe in leading by example, updating our tools, refreshing our strategies and sharing what we learn.
As we look to 2026 and beyond, remain firm in your cybersecurity commitments: Protect your operations, protect your data and protect the trust your clients place in you. In aviation and every sector that values trust and precision, cybersecurity must be a shared responsibility and a permanent priority.
