FORT WORTH, Texas , Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Aviation Services, Inc., a market leader in helicopter technical services, announced to customers that it has invested record amounts in technical capacity and shop enhancements in the past 2 years. Growth investments have been aimed at improving the Company's depth and expertise for rotorcraft customizations, completions, military retrofits, spares handling, and related technical operations on civilian and government operated helicopters. TAS has added a Component Overhaul center, new Wire Harness shop, new Training Center, heating and fan-cooling upgrades in hangars, additional Paint Booth, Avionics Bench Test room, new Sheet Metal shop, hangar Mezzanines, plus epoxy-sealed floors and other customer-oriented upgrades. Further, sister companies of TAS have made similar bold investments, such as a new Machining Center and a Composites Shop at Integrated Flight Systems; and complete new aeronautical engineering design, soft ware, and computer hardware investments in Ranger AeroDesign. TAS even underwent a self-imposed "NASIP" style audit in 2008, rigorously assessing its technical operations to the highest inspection standards that are conducted by national FAA audit teams -- closing out that tough effort with numerous continuous improvement programs and spot upgrades.
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Edward Bolden , President of Ranger Rotorcraft Group, the parent company of Texas Aviation Services and the other units in the Group, said: "We are thankful that we have large institutional shareholders who have given us the financial strength to make these important long-term investments on behalf of our customers, despite the 'Economic Meltdown' going on all around us. Our customers for V-VIP helicopters, EMS, Law Enforcement, Offshore Oil, Paramilitary, Government, TV News, and Military helicopter projects have discerning tastes and high expectations for firms like TAS to have nose-to-tail technical capability. That is where we are headed in our focused strategy for building here the largest and best independent rotorcraft technical services company in the South. These major and continuing investments also beef up our commitments to quality, safety, and FAR Compliance."
Mike Bashlor , President of Texas Aviation Services, said: "One of the tangible and visible signs of our technical investment approach here has less to do with hardware and buildings, and more to do with our extraordinary workforce. We have won the FAA Diamond Award in each of the past several years, and we will continue training to those very high standards in each year ahead. We invest hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in the time and effort that is dedicated to achieving such high marks with the FAA. I'll put our great people up against any technical services company in the helicopter industry; they have a winning, can-do attitude and the expertise to back it up."
The rotorcraft services holdings of Ranger Rotorcraft Group, and some of their unique technical features, include:
-- Texas Aviation Services, Inc. - a large depot-sized helicopter service center that specializes in completions, avionics, interiors, paint, MRO, re-wiring, and mission retrofits for civilian and military helicopters. The President of TAS is Michael Bashlor. -- Integrated Flight Systems, Inc. - specializes in helicopter air conditioners and video systems, and is adding new STC's for other helicopter specialty products. The President of IFS is Leroy Aday. -- Ranger AeroDesign - an engineering unit that provides aeronautical engineering services to Ranger's subsidiaries and to outside clients, with a goal of eventually qualifying as an "ODA" licensee with the FAA. The officer in charge of this engineering unit is Fida Waishek. -- Platinum Aviation Group, Inc. - holder of numerous STC's and an unlimited repair station license, in which special projects can be accomplished. Newly teamed with Pegasus Helicopters PLC (a British public company), for prototyping and manufacturing pressure-jet helicopter kits. Mr. Aday is also President of Platinum.Ranger Rotorcraft Group, Inc. presently has all of its operations at Meacham Field in Fort Worth, Texas . The mission of the Company is to create the largest and best independent rotorcraft technical services company in the South. With 174,000 square feet of hangars and shops, the Company commands a strong position in the helicopter services industry and its aftermarket support sectors. The Meacham Airport operations are one of the largest of their type in the South, with the capacity for scores of helicopter projects per year. For more information visit http://www.rangeraerospace.com/, http://www.texasaviationservices.com/, http://www.integratedflightsys.com/, http://www.rangeraerodesign.com/, and http://www.platinumaviation.com/.
Forward Looking Statements: The Company from time to time may discuss forward-looking information. Except for factual historical information, all forward-looking statements are estimates by the Company's management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that are beyond the Company's control and may cause actual results to differ materially from management's expectations.
SOURCE Ranger Rotorcraft Group, Inc.
