The reconstituted Enstrom has received its FAA production certificate (PC), authorizing it to manufacture parts for all its helicopter models. Enstrom filed Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy in January and shuttered operations. Its assets were acquired in May by Indiana-based Surack Enterprises.
Since May, Enstrom had been building parts under its type certificate holder authorization. Building parts under the PC will expedite the process and enable the company to begin new build helicopter deliveries early next year. “To go from where we started to receiving a PC in only six months is just incredible. We are on pace to start delivering helicopters this spring, and in fact, the first new Enstroms are already coming down the line,” said company owner Chuck Surack.
Prior to bankruptcy, Menominee, Michigan-based Enstrom was in near-continuous operation for 64 years, manufacturing more than 1,300 light turbine and piston-powered helicopters for police, military, commercial, and private missions since the 1960s. It had most recently been owned by China’s Chongqing General Aviation Industry Group (CGAG).