Introducing Sotej Sohal: Vice President of Quality
Air Tractor is pleased to welcome Sotej Sohal as the Vice President of Quality. Bringing over 25 years of leadership experience across manufacturing, automotive, railroad, elevators, consumer products, and food & beverage industries, Sohal steps into his role with a sharp focus on continuous improvement and operational excellence. He is relocating to Olney, Texas, from Madison, Wisconsin.
“Air Tractor combines everything I was looking for in my next chapter,” Sohal said. “Leland Snow built a legacy here based on a strong culture and his company built more than exceptional aircraft. He built a brand, a reputation, and a level of trust that customers have relied on for generations. I wanted to be part of a company where the work really matters.”
Sohal holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a master’s degree in Engineering Management. He is also a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt and Certified Supply Chain Professional. Throughout his career, Sohal has delivered dramatic improvements in production efficiency, quality management systems, and customer satisfaction.
Sohal is taking a deliberate approach to engaging with Air Tractor’s business, its operational environment, and the people who drive its success. This firsthand perspective will help him identify opportunities, make informed decisions, and contribute to the company’s future.
“My first goal is to learn,” he said. “Air Tractor has a strong reputation, outstanding products, and a talented team. I want to understand what is working well and where we have opportunities to improve. From there, my focus will be on strengthening our quality systems, developing people, improving problem-solving capabilities, and ensuring quality is built into every process.“
“In simple terms, I want us to prevent problems before they happen rather than finding them later. The best quality systems make it easier to do the job right the first time. That means designing our processes so potential issues are prevented, not just detected during inspection. When we build quality into the process from the beginning, our teams can focus on building great aircraft and our customers can have confidence in every product we deliver.”
Since arriving in Olney, he has spent much of his time on the factory floor engaging directly with the team.
“Ultimately, success means delivering safe, reliable products to our customers while creating a culture where every employee is engaged in continuous improvement,” Sohal added.
“The best solutions are coming from the people who are closest to the work,” he explained.
As Vice President of Quality at Air Tractor, Sohal oversees the company’s quality systems, continuous improvement efforts, and compliance with FAA regulatory standards. His responsibilities also include improving operational processes, developing his team, and maintaining the systems that support product quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
“Quality is more than compliance and metrics,” he said. “It’s about creating reliable processes that help our people succeed and consistently deliver the level of excellence customers expect from the Air Tractor name. Our goal is to empower people to solve problems, continuously improve our processes, and build a culture where everyone takes pride in protecting the legacy of quality and trust that Air Tractor has earned over decades.”
Over the next few months, he is looking forward to meeting Air Tractor dealers, customers, and industry leaders.
Air Tractor is excited to welcome Sotej Sohal to the team.