SANFORD, FLORIDA – Advanced Composite Structures Florida (ACS) recently completed additional expansion of its facilities to 35,000 square feet to accommodate sustained growth in rotor blade repair needs of global helicopter operators. The facility expansion reflects the demand increase from only four years ago when the it was confined to one 10,000 square foot hangar at the Orlando Sanford International Airport.
In addition to support of continuous and sustained growth in rotor blade repairs under current FAA certification and U.S. Army AED approvals, the expansion was necessary to accommodate ACS’ latest benchmark, EASA certification. After gaining approval from the European regulator on May 20, ACS is now able to serve the needs of customers requiring EASA Form 1 with the issuance of dual-release return-to-service certificates.
“ACS is answering the need from international customers by obtaining EASA certification. As many European and other international operators who accept the FAA 8130-3 already know, ACS is able to offer competitive turn-around time and superior pricing,” said Jeff Small, President of ACS. “Beginning in Summer 2019, those customers requiring Form 1 certificates will also be able to take advantage of our economics and lead times through this new certification.”
Key to making the economics and lead times possible is the partnership with specialized and highly reliable logistics companies to ensure the most efficient and cost-effective shipping means are utilized. “We are partnering with a company whose sole focus is helicopter and large component shipping and has solid relationships with the air freight companies” said David Stone of ACS. “This relationship ensures that our lead times stay ahead of what the customer would experience staying in Europe”.
“We know the helicopter industry and it’s a tight business” said Small. “Good pricing and turn-around times are still as important to our customers as ever. With EASA certification, ACS is now able to offer our efficiencies to nearly every operator in the world”
