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1. Independent Sikorsky Expertise
Company: First Aviation Services
Product: First Aviation Services (FAS) provides helicopter MRO services primarily from its Aviation Blade Services and Piedmont Propulsion Systems subsidiaries, which support Airbus, Bell, Boeing and Sikorsky helicopters. Historically known as the largest independent Sikorsky rotor blade MRO provider, FAS says its goal is to provide a complementary service to Sikorsky as a nimble business suited to dealing with commercial operators and smaller foreign military customers. Its subsidiaries hold U.S. Army contracts to support Sikorsky UH-60 rotor hubs and main shock struts. FAS recently signed an agreement with Piranha Aerospace to support various Airbus Helicopters components as part of its nose-to-tail management program. Under the agreement, its subsidiaries will offer maintenance support initially on AS350/355 rotor blades and repair opportunities on various aircraft hoses, eventually expanding into Airbus H145 blade support and alternate parts development.
marketplace.aviationweek.com/company/first-aviation-services-inc
2. Helicopter Health Monitoring
Company: GPMS
Product: GPMS Foresight MX software combines a health and usage monitoring system with flight data monitoring, engine monitoring and integrated rotor track and balance capability. Aircraft data collected inflight is automatically uploaded to Foresight MX in the cloud to provide operators with insight into aircraft health. GPMS says the system can inform operators of potential unscheduled maintenance over 100 hr. in advance of issues. The company holds 14 supplemental type certificates (STC) for helicopter platforms from manufacturers such as Airbus, Bell, Boeing and Sikorsky and expects to have at least four more STCs completed this year for Airbus EC135s, H145D3s and AS332s, as well as Columbia Model 234 helicopters. Several helicopter OEMs and operators—including Airbus Helicopters, Blackcomb Helicopters, Helicopter Express, Metro Aviation and Precision—have selected Foresight MX so far this year.
marketplace.aviationweek.com/company/gpms
3. Expanding Capabilities
Company: Pratt & Whitney Canada
Product: With around 11,000 Pratt & Whitney Canada helicopter engines in service, the OEM provides maintenance capabilities from more than 50 global facilities, including line maintenance up to hot section inspections and overhaul. Its owned facilities that provide MRO services for helicopter engines are located in Saint-Hubert, Quebec; Belo Horizonte, Brazil; and Ludwigsfelde, Germany. At the Singapore Airshow in February, Pratt announced plans to add a new PT6C-67C engine overhaul line in Singapore, which it expects to be fully operational by 2025. The company recently has added several aftermarket developments to its helicopter engine portfolio, including a PT6T-3/6 Twinpac engine overhaul program designed for military customers and a flat-rate parts package for reduction gearbox clutch inspections for PT6T-3 engines. It also introduced remote maintenance kits for select helicopter engines operated by customers enrolled in its Eagle Service Plan.
marketplace.aviationweek.com/company/pratt-whitney-canada-corp
4. Growing Portfolio
Company: StandardAero
Product: StandardAero provides tip-to-tail services for Airbus and Bell helicopters, including engine MRO services, dynamic components services, airframe repairs and avionics installations and modifications, with helicopter facilities in the U.S., Canada, the UK, Singapore and Australia. The company specializes in MRO services for Rolls-Royce M250 and Pratt & Whitney Canada PW200 engines and says it has more than 600 years of experience on the M250. Meanwhile, it is adding PW200 engine maintenance capability at its Dallas shop, and it is setting up a new test cell at its Winnipeg facility, which received Transport Canada approval on the engine type in late 2023. StandardAero plans to add PT6T-9 capabilities in Winnipeg within the next year. It has also partnered with Thales Group to create StableLight, a full four-axis digital autopilot system for light helicopters.
