Reflecting on its reach across multiple businesses in the rotorcraft sector, Grand Prarie, Texas-based Hawke Aerospace Holdings has rebranded its three segments that it refers to as “finance, fix, and fly,” under the Uniflight Global banner.
The move covers Uniflight (Booth N3307), its MRO division, which operates two Part 145 locations, a customer service facility for Bell, Airbus Helicopters, and Leonardo at its flagship Grand Prarie Municipal Airport facility, and the other at Pittsburgh-area Rostraver Airport; Infinity Helicopter Leasing, its financing division, a joint venture that currently has 11 rotorcraft in its portfolio; and Aviation Services Unlimited (ASU), the company’s Part 135 flight department based in Rome, New York, and operates a fleet of three Bell 206 Jet Rangers and a Cessna 172 on aerial survey missions.
“The impetus for the rebranding is to respond to the profound shift that we have seen in the marketplace over the past three years,” said company chairman and CEO Joseph Hawke. “Our observations are that operators need more fully integrated solutions. We’re really seeking to change how vertical lift is delivered to the marketplace, and do that with fully flexible and seamlessly integrated solutions.”
Among its offerings are consulting for fleet upgrades and mission requirements, as well as operational services. “An important part of the value proposition is that we’re able to basically deliver turnkey wet lease operations if that’s ultimately what the end user desires,” Hawke told AIN. For existing helicopter operators who look to acquire new equipment, Uniflight can also provide a short turnkey lease with training to make the client self sufficient by the end of the agreement.
Uniflight Global was founded in 2008 with the acquisition of Uniflight and ASU. Hawke noted the privately-held company’s 30 percent growth last year and based on its booked backlog, he believes it could see 50 growth in 2018. To help manage that expansion, the company has named Michael Topa, formerly president of Composite Technology as its new COO.
Uniflight Global is also in active acquisition discussions with several businesses that align with one or more of its divisions, and is about to embark on a recapitalization plan to finance any of those company purchases.