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.

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Mark Huber

Sikorsky has delivered the first of 45 MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter airframes to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) as part of a 10-year service life extension program (SLEP) designed to keep the aircraft flying through the 2040s. The USCG has been flying the aircraft for 33 years and much of the fleet is approaching its 20,000-hour airframe flight limit, with the average airframe now at 16,000 hours.
Under the $374 million program, Sikorsky will deliver 12 airframes per year through 2027 to the USCG’s Aviation Logistics Center (ALC) in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The ALC currently services and repairs the Jayhawk fleet. Under the SLEP, the ALC will remove all dynamic components, digital cockpit, mission systems, and engines from existing aircraft and then rebuild them with the new airframe consisting of nose, cabin, and aft transition structures.
The USCG reports that Jayhawks have flown 730,430 hours since 1990, conducting 48,300 search and rescue missions and saving 11,900 lives. “The MH-60T is an important part of the execution of many Coast Guard missions, including search and rescue, and our service life extension program is vital in maintaining its capability,” said Rear Adm. Michael Campbell, director of USCG acquisitions programs and program executive officer.

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.

USCG Begins Sikorsky Jayhawk Helicopter Rebuilding Program

Coast Guard will rebuild 45 Jayhawks with new airframes

The U.S. Coast Guard is rebuilding its fleet of 45 MH-60T Jayhawk helicopters with all new airframes.

USCG Begins Sikorsky Jayhawk Rebuilding Program

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

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

Summit Highlights St. Louis Aero MRO and Manufacturing

Kerry Lynch

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

MRO services for E1000 turboprops available at company’s Denver location

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Executives share their experience with system

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Charles Alcock

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.

In this article

Sikorsky Aircraft

More In Maintenance and Modifications

Summit Highlights St. Louis Aero MRO and Manufacturing

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

Building Interiors at Yingling Aviation

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

Stevens Aerospace Joins Epic Aircraft Service Network

MRO services for E1000 turboprops available at company’s Denver location

Duncan Adds Gogo 5G to Company Citation Excel

Executives share their experience with system

Australian Regulator Approves Textron Service Centers

Textron operates service centers in Melbourne, Perth, and Gold Coast

C&L Aerospace Tapped for Challenger Flutter Damper Mx

The company was selected by OEM Héroux-Devtek

Avcon Delivers Aerial Weapon in Florida Mosquito Fight

The Kansas-based company specializes in modifying airframes

Duncan Aviation Authorized for Honeywell APU Repairs

MRO’s Lincoln facility expects to bring work online in early 2027

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