Henry Soderlund
Biography
Henry Soderlund is the Chief Air Safety Investigator and Manager of the Air Safety Investigation Department at Textron Aviation, Inc. His passion for aviation began in the sixth grade after a helicopter ride at the California State Fair, sparking a lifelong interest in the field.
In 1997, Henry began his career at Cessna Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas, working as an aircraft maintenance technician at the Wichita Citation Service Center. The following year, he transitioned into the Air Safety Investigations department as an Associate Air Safety Investigator. With the formation of Textron Aviation in 2014, the department expanded its scope to support accident investigations involving Cessna, Beechcraft, and Hawker aircraft.
Throughout his career, Henry has participated in over 380 field investigations, both domestic and international, involving aircraft ranging from two-seat piston-engine airplanes to corporate jets. He has served as the lead company investigator on National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) go-team investigations and their foreign equivalents.
Henry earned a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Technology from LeTourneau University in 1996. While attending LeTourneau, he worked as an aircraft maintenance technician for the university’s flight department, maintaining a fleet that included Piper aircraft, a Beechcraft 95-B55 Baron, a Cessna 150, and a Citabria. During summer breaks, he gained additional experience working as a Lockheed L-1011 maintenance technician for an air freight company. After graduation, he worked as a flight instructor and traffic reporter pilot before joining Cessna.
In 2002, Henry received a Master of Aeronautical Science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He has also completed the University of Southern California’s Aviation Safety and Security certificate program, as well as the Transportation Safety Institute’s Advanced Aviation Safety Investigator and Advanced Aviation Safety Officer programs.
Henry holds a Commercial Pilot Certificate for single- and multi-engine land aircraft with an instrument rating, along with Flight and Ground Instructor certificates. He also possesses Airframe and Powerplant certificates, including an Inspection Authorization.