Rotortrade Launches First U.S. MRO Facility in Pennsylvania

Helicopter dealership Rotortrade has opened its 9,000-sq-ft U.S. helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport (KLBE) in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, after receiving FAA Part 145 approval. The regulatory approval process took less than 10 months, something Rotortrade describes as “well ahead of industry averages.”

With Rotortrade now able to offer rotorcraft maintenance in the U.S., the Western Pennsylvania MRO reinforces “[its] ability to support operators with comprehensive solutions spanning sales, financing and maintenance,” explained Rotortrade CEO Philippe Lubrano. The facility has already completed work on 15 helicopters, conducting services such as inspections, overhauls, and completions.

In anticipation of elevated future demand, Rotortrade has set its sights on what Latrobe MRO general manager Dan Mansfield describes as “aggressive expansion.” This includes enlarging the facility and recruiting more staff to help meet the objectives of its five-year plan. By 2030, Rotortrade anticipates “targeting more than 50 aircraft annually” and “securing EASA bilateral [agreements] for global reach.”

The U.S. facility complements Rotortrade’s existing EASA-approved MRO capability in Tallard, France. Both centers are supported by an international network of 15 dealerships. Although Rototrade holds existing agreements with various OEMs—including Leonardo, Airbus, Bell, Safran, and Pratt & Whitney Canada—the company is also “in discussions with key suppliers to become official retailer of their products,” noted Lubrano.