Light Helicopter Manufacturer | MD Helicopters

MD Helicopters Exhibits for the First Time at European Rotors in Madrid

Jacob Rose — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 18:40:47 +0000

MESA, Arizona: November 22, 2023 – MD Helicopters (European Rotors Booth #526) is making its European Rotors debut in Madrid, Spain, November 28 to 30. The company will host Slovak Training Academy’s MD 530F in its booth, which features MDH’s popular full-glass cockpit avionics package. Slovak Training Academy offers mission and tactical pilot training, along with practical hands-on maintenance training for both MD 500E and MD 530F helicopters.

“The MD Helicopters team is excited to participate in European Rotors 2023 and showcase our commitment to the rotorcraft market. Our dedication to providing excellent aircraft and services aligns with the industry’s evolving needs, and we look forward to the growth opportunities this event will bring,” said MD Helicopters President and CEO, Brad Pedersen. “As we travel the world, our focus is on meeting industry leaders, suppliers, and operators to reaffirm our commitment to innovation, growth, and responsiveness. We are listening to the community and want them to experience firsthand the quality and reliability that define MD Helicopters. Our presence here is a testament to our ongoing dedication to meeting industry needs.”

MDH is currently in the process of receiving FAA and EASA certification for the MD 530F with a glass cockpit and crash resistant fuel system. Approval is expected during the first half of 2024.

MDH President and CEO Brad Pedersen will be available in MDH’s booth (#526) during the show to speak with customers, prospects, aviation enthusiasts, and the media. Members of the media who would like a private interview with Pedersen are encouraged to schedule in advance to guarantee a reserved time slot.

About MD Helicopters

MD Helicopters, LLC (MDH) manufactures high-performance rotorcraft solutions that support operators flying military, commercial, law enforcement, utility, and VIP mission profiles. With thousands of aircraft in service worldwide, MDH has been designing and building aircraft known for their safety, versatility, responsiveness, speed, and reliability since 1947. Our commitment to product sustainment and customer success allows MDH to deliver aircraft unmatched in their performance and reliability. MD Helicopters, LLC is owned by an investment consortium comprised of MBIA Insurance, Bardin Hill Investment Partners LP, and MB Global Partners. To learn more about MD Helicopters, visit us at mdhelicopters.com, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Contact:

Ashley Sanchez, Director of Marketing and Communications

MD Helicopters

Email: Ashley.sanchez@mdhelicopters.com

480-346-6454

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MD Helicopters Receives Manufacturer of The Year Award and Meets With Ukraine President Zelenskyy to Discuss Joint Production Opportunities

Jacob Rose — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 17:17:23 +0000

Mesa, Ariz., October 17, 2023 – MD Helicopters (MDH) received the Arizona Manufacturers Council’s (AMC) Medium Manufacturer of the Year Award during a luncheon at Grand Canyon University Arena.

“The AMC council is thrilled to recognize MD Helicopters, a long-time fixture in Arizona’s manufacturing industry and a leader in one of the nation’s fastest growing manufacturing sectors,” AMC Executive Director Grace Appelbe said. “This sector employs more than 600,000 people and positively impacts the state economy by $77 billion a year and MDH is a significant contributor.”

AGREEMENT WITH UKRAINE

The AMC award comes on the heels of MD Helicopters’ participation in an Arizona Defense and Industry Coalition (AZDIC) delegation trip to Ukraine to explore partnership and production opportunities with Ukraine. The group also participated in launching the inaugural International Defense Industries Forum (DFNC1) with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

During the Forum, AZDIC and the delegation members signed the Ukraine Defense Industry Compact, furthering their commitment and joining defense industry leaders around the world in supporting Ukraine’s fight for freedom and independence. This also reaffirms their commitment to the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine’s economy by seeking opportunities to engage in trade and investment, share expertise, and participate in other partnership-based business activities. MD Helicopters Vice President of Sales and Marketing Jason Lindauer joined leaders of four other Arizona defense and industry companies on the delegation.

“We are deeply committed to Ukraine’s safety and security,” said Lindauer. “Our advanced light attack scout helicopters would safeguard both military and civilian personnel as they enter and exit the battlefield. Beyond the initial supply, our dedication extends to empowering Ukrainian workers. We are prepared to establish a comprehensive manufacturing and in-service support network, involving training and maintenance programs, all managed by skilled Ukrainian professionals. This holistic approach ensures the sustained success of our products within the country, contributing significantly to Ukraine’s defense capabilities.”

“MD Helicopters is a valuable member of the Arizona defense and industry network and will be a reliable, high-performance support for this initiative,” AZDIC President Lynndy Smith. “Jason and the team at MD Helicopters are exceptional subject matter experts on defense aircraft and their insight and knowledge will be invaluable to Ukraine’s defense and recovery.”

About MD Helicopters

Contact:

Ashley Sanchez, Director of Marketing and Communications

MD Helicopters

Email: Ashley.sanchez@mdhelicopters.com

480-346-6454

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MD Helicopters Marks One Year Under New Ownership, Highlights Positive Growth and New COO

Jacob Rose — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 21:55:48 +0000

Mesa, Ariz., Oct 10, 2023 – MD Helicopters (MDH) is celebrating one year since emerging from bankruptcy, highlighting its growth and future plans.

“When we left bankruptcy, we were really leaving the past two or three years of uncertainty due to the bankruptcy and ownership changes,” MD Helicopters President and CEO Brad Pedersen said. “The customers suffered the worst of that with poor service and support. Our goal during the past year was to stabilize the company and grow it while significantly improving our customer support. We have come a very long way in that goal and our customers are reaping the benefits. We are committed to doing whatever we can to keep our customers’ aircraft flying.”

Under its new leadership, MDH has received orders for more than 20 military and commercial aircraft and is currently filling the 2024 order book, which is conservatively expected to be 22 aircraft. In addition to sold aircraft, additional aircraft are being added to the line as well to ensure customers who need aircraft sooner can take delivery of a new helicopter in as few as four to six months.

To meet these expanded manufacturing goals, MDH hired more than 160 new employees in the past year and is maintaining a 98% retention rate.

In addition to strengthening the manufacturing line, MD Helicopters has put considerable focus on building a strong stock of spares.

“When we took control of the company, one of our customers’ largest concerns was a lack of spare parts,” said MD Helicopters Vice President of Aftermarket Sales and Services, Ryan Weeks. “We identified close to 1,000 of the most-requested parts and made a multi-million investment to strengthen our supply chain and have those parts available to ship within 24 hours.”

MDH is currently filling orders for 77% of those part numbers within 24 hours, up from 45% a year ago on 40% less number of parts. Long lead times for some parts keep the company from reaching 100% today, though that goal is attainable by the end of 2024, Weeks said.

This success is in large part due to the work of MDH’s new Chief Operating Officer Harvey Ticlo. A licensed A&P mechanic with extensive aerospace and manufacturing leadership experience, Ticlo joined the team over the summer and worked closely with suppliers to create long-term agreements, working alongside them on production forecasting and planning.

“The global supply chain remains challenging with shortages of materials and labor,” Ticlo said. “We are sharing long-term forecasts with suppliers, giving them visibility on our needs so we can partner on meeting our material requirements for the next several years.”

Other improvements MDH is undertaking include:

A Technical Bulletin for the MD 500E to MD 530F, allowing service centers to perform the upgrade
Development of a crashworthy auxiliary fuel tank, which is in final stages of certification
Partnerships with companies to develop supplemental type certificates (STCs) for MD aircraft
Repair and overhaul exchange pool allowing for quicker turn time on drivetrain components to decrease aircraft downtime
EASA certification for the MD 530F by mid-2024
Glass cockpit upgrades

About MD Helicopters

Contact:

Ashley Sanchez, Director of Marketing and Communications

MD Helicopters

Email: Ashley.sanchez@mdhelicopters.com

480-346-6454

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AIN – One Year Out of Bankruptcy, MD Helicopters on Upswing

Jacob Rose — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 16:43:35 +0000

Click on the link below to read AIN’s article on MD Helicopters and the progress we have made one year out of bankruptcy.

MD Helicopters on Upswing One Year Out of Bankruptcy

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FlightGlobal – MD Helicopters closes on MD902 decision, as new owners mark first year in charge

Jacob Rose — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 17:19:49 +0000

Click on the link below to read FlightGlobal’s article on MD Helicopters for updates on the MD902 line and the progress we have made under new leadership.

MD Helicopters closes on MD902 decision, as new owners mark first year in charge

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Vertical Magazine – MD celebrates growth a year after emerging from bankruptcy

Jacob Rose — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 18:52:31 +0000

Click on the link below to read Vertical Magazine’s Feature on MD Helicopters and the progress we have made under our new leadership team.

MD celebrates growth a year after emerging from bankruptcy

The post Vertical Magazine – MD celebrates growth a year after emerging from bankruptcy appeared first on Light Helicopter Manufacturer | MD Helicopters.

MD Helicopters Closes Contract with Nigerian Federal Government for 12 MD 530F Cayuse Warrior Plus Helicopters

Jacob Rose — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 17:29:16 +0000

Mesa, Ariz., September 28, 2023 – MD Helicopters (MDH) closed a contract with the Nigerian federal government for 12 MD 530F Cayuse Warrior Plus Scout/Attack helicopters during a signing ceremony in Nigeria. The aircraft will be operated by the Nigerian Army Aviation to effectively tackle the security challenges in the country. The acquisition of the new attack helicopters is part of ongoing efforts by the Federal Government of Nigeria to enhance the capacity of the Nigerian Army Aviation towards achieving constitutional responsibilities in a joint environment.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja commented at the opening ceremony of the maiden Nigerian Army Aviation Seminar in Abuja, that the MD 530F Cayuse Warrior Plus attack helicopters would operationalize the Nigerian army aviation unit, which was set up to improve ground troops’ agility, responsiveness, and efficacy during operations. The COAS added that it would also contribute to the overall operational success of joint and coalition troops.

“MD Helicopters is grateful for the trust of the Nigerian government, and we’re excited to showcase this purpose built, best value solution to Nigeria and the world,” says MD Helicopters President and CEO Brad Pedersen, who attended the ceremony alongside Nigerian military leadership.

MD Helicopters will begin delivering the aircraft to Nigeria in the fourth quarter of 2023.

The Cayuse Warrior is a proven tactical scout and light attack aircraft built from the MD 530F design and valued for its unmatched power, safety, speed, agility, and unparalleled confined area capabilities. The ‘Plus’ version features mission enhancements that include the weapons system, avionics improvements, armor, and increased power performance.

The Nigerian selection includes a complete ILS package, spares, pilot and maintainer training, and a simulator.

About MD Helicopters

Contact:

Ashley Sanchez, Director of Marketing and Communications

MD Helicopters

Email: Ashley.sanchez@mdhelicopters.com

480-346-6454

The post MD Helicopters Closes Contract with Nigerian Federal Government for 12 MD 530F Cayuse Warrior Plus Helicopters appeared first on Light Helicopter Manufacturer | MD Helicopters.

MD Helicopters Collaborates with Able Aerospace for Parts Refurbishment and Reduced Costs for Customers

Jacob Rose — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 18:21:14 +0000

Mesa, Arizona, September 26, 2023 – MD Helicopters (MDH) is pleased to announce its collaboration with Able Aerospace Services to provide expanded repairs on major components used in the repair & overhaul of MDH gearboxes and hub assemblies. This cooperation is one of many actions MDH is taking to improve aftermarket support.

This will allow MD Helicopters to reduce its overhaul costs and prices by repairing and refurbishing corroded or pitted parts. The collaboration will also increase MDH’s availability of reconditioned assemblies, improve availability of exchange units, and allow MDH to return specific serial numbers back to customers sooner.

“Able Aerospace specializes in rotorcraft component refurbishment, they have a long history of supporting MD Helicopters, and they are located just a few miles away in Mesa, AZ, which makes working together very convenient and efficient.” said Ryan Weeks, MD Helicopters Vice President, Aftermarket Sales and Support. “Able’s expanded repairs for main rotor hubs and gearboxes will significantly reduce the time and cost of repairing and overhauling those assemblies.”

“Able’s commitment to high quality and component reliability, combined with our innovative, cost-effective repair and development of overhaul solutions provide an unmatched value to our customers,” said Travis Tyler, Vice President and General Manager of Able Aerospace Services. “We look forward to the opportunity to support MD Helicopters and their customers.”

About MD Helicopters

Contact:
Ashley Sanchez, Director of Marketing and Communications
MD Helicopters
Email: Ashley.sanchez@mdhelicopters.com
480-346-6454

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TATV Spotlight: MD Helicopters sets focus on Africa

Jacob Rose — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 18:12:06 +0000

Check out this editorial video from Times Aerospace where Alan Peaford talks to our VP of Sales and Marketing, Jason Lindauer, regarding MD’s new leadership and plans for the African market.

TATV Spotlight: MD Helicopters sets focus on Africa

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Rotor Magazine – September 2023 Cover Story and Feature

Jacob Rose — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 18:03:05 +0000

Check out the cover story of the September issue of Rotor Magazine to see how MD Helicopters is powering ahead in 2023.

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