First Aviation Services (Booth C3429) has adopted unified branding for its four helicopter component repair businesses. Aviation Blade Services (Kissimmee, Florida), Heliblade International (Anderson, California), Piedmont Propulsion Systems (Winston-Salem, North Carolina), and Associated Aircraft Manufacturing and Sales (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) will now be operated as the Rotary Wing Group. The member companies specialize in support of key components for Sikorsky UH-60/S-70 aircraft, legacy Sikorsky models, and various Airbus, Bell, Boeing, Leonardo, and Sikorsky helicopters.
Collectively, the locations have 150,000 sq ft of MRO space to service main and tail rotor blades, various dynamic components, landing gear, and shock struts. Aviation Blade Services provides Sikorsky UH-60/S-70 main and tail rotor maintenance, including depot-level repairs such as blade cuff changes. It also services Sikorsky S-55, S-58, S-61/H-3, S-64/CH-54, and S-76 main and tail rotor blades. Heliblade provides rotor blade repair for Airbus, Bell, and Leonardo as well as for Black Hawk and Boeing (CH-47D) models. Associated Aircraft Manufacturing and Sales holds U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) source approval for over 120 aircraft parts and components, including the UH-60 main shock strut. Piedmont Propulsion Systems (PPS) holds DoD source approval for the repair of UH-60 main rotor hubs. PPS is also FAA/EASA-certified to repair several other UH-60 dynamic components.
First Aviation COO Paul Bolton said his company has made a major commitment to the helicopter market and expects to make additional related acquisitions and reinvest for organic growth. The company provides aircraft parts manufacturing, component repair and overhaul, and rotables management worldwide via subsidiaries that include Aerospace Turbine Rotables, Associated Aircraft Manufacturing and Sales, Aviation Blade Services, EvÅlution Aerospace, Master Support, Heliblade International, and Piedmont Propulsion Systems. Beyond the helicopter market, these companies offer repair and overhaul services for components such as actuation systems, structures, IFF systems, lighting, power supplies, oxygen and fire suppression systems, hydrostatic testing, crew masks, and all Dowty, Hamilton, Hartzell, and McCauley propellers.