About SWI
Robert L. Hemphill began his aircraft instrument career when he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1954. Stationed at the Keflavik (Iceland) Airport, Robert L. was in charge of setting up and supervising the instrument shop. His unit was on 24-hour standby duty for aircrafts being ferried across the North Atlantic Ocean.
After four years of active duty in the military, Robert L. secured employment with Otto’s Instrument Service in Ontario CA. He continued to work at Otto’s until going into business for himself with another partner. Sky West Instruments opened for business on Jan. 2, 1968. Robert L. became the sole owner of SWI since 1973.
Robert F. Hemphill, son of Robert L. started his career with SWI in 1982. He began an eighteen month apprenticeship with practical experience in the procedures, practices, inspection methods, materials, tools and equipment generally used in the work for which the repair station is rated, received his FAA Repairman Certificate.
In 1987 Robert L. transferred the business to Robert F. with a ten year contract. Since 1998 Robert F. has been the true owner-operator of SWI. Since 1998 Robert L. has been semi-retired, and as of 2007, Robert L. is on an average ten hour work week, still helping out with his highly skilled expertise. Between the two Robert’s, they have 84+ years of combined instrument repair service and running a small family owned business.
Bonnie L. Hemphill, the wife and mother, comes in one day a week to do the bookkeeping and the fine attention to detail of the shop cleaning duties.