Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

Contributor

Mark Huber

First Aviation Services (Booth C3429) has adopted unified branding for its four helicopter component repair businesses. Aviation Blade Services&nbsp;(Kissimmee, Florida), Heliblade International (Anderson, California), Piedmont Propulsion Systems (Winston-Salem, North Carolina), and Associated Aircraft Manufacturing and Sales&nbsp;(Fort&nbsp;Lauderdale, Florida) will now be operated as the Rotary Wing Group.&nbsp;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&nbsp;ft of MRO space to service&nbsp;main and tail rotor blades, various dynamic components, landing gear, and shock struts. Aviation Blade Services&nbsp;provides Sikorsky UH-60/S-70 main and tail rotor maintenance, including depot-level repairs such as blade cuff changes.&nbsp;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&nbsp;holds U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)&nbsp;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, Evōlution Aerospace,&nbsp;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.&nbsp;

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

First Aviation Services Consolidates Helicopter Repair Brands

First Aviation Services is unifying helicopter service holdings under the Rotary Wing Group brand.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Panel participants included Boeing, Gulfstream Aerospace, and West Star Aviation

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News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

What began 22 years ago as a Caravan project is now a busy multimillion-dollar business

Building Interiors at Yingling Aviation

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News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

HAI Convention News 2023

More In Maintenance and Modifications

Summit Highlights St. Louis Aero MRO and Manufacturing

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What began 22 years ago as a Caravan project is now a busy multimillion-dollar business

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