During the last 18 months, UK-based Rotortech says it has not only managed to largely avoid the negative aspects of the post-September 11 fallout, but has experienced a complete turnaround in its fortunes.

Managing director Simon Peck, who took over the company reins in January 2001, said he is expecting to announce record trading figures at the end of the company’s financial year. He told EBAN: “This is largely due to the efforts of our workforce who through application and a real sense of sharing in the problem, have managed to turnaround a business that was struggling to survive.

“When I inherited this business with little or no orders and a similar quantity of morale, it became apparent very quickly that something radical had to happen fast in order to establish an exit strategy to

the impending predicament. The workforce held the key, most of whom had worked for Rotortech for many years.”

The turnaround in Rotortech’s fortunes is primarily due its its sharp upturn in heavy maintenance activities which have centred around the AS365, AS355 and S76 aircraft belonging to civil, military and civil offshore operators.

Said Peck: “These activities range from ‘G check’ through to keel beam and primary structure repairs, all of which have had a significant impact on the workloads of the four main departments – namely avionics, design, composites and structures, and A&C.”

Rotortech says it has also experienced a sharp upturn in the demand for its lightweight carbon fibre engine cowling for the S76.

Said Peck: “This product has recently experienced a slump in sales but through Sikorsky’s strategic sub-contracting, the recent aircraft/parts sales have increased, and significantly the longevity has recently been re-established through the continued use of the Rotortech product in the future S76D variant.”

In order to tap into the European and Middle Eastern markets, Rotortech says it was important to be prepared to mobilise its workforce to the customer’s location. Peck said: “Several large projects Rotortech has recently won will be carried out almost entirely at the customers location, thus saving significant positioning costs.”

Simon Peck says there is now an increasing trend for organisations to develop their own alliances in

order to maintain their grip on their market sector, a predicament which, he claims, the major manufactures are openly trying to exploit by restricting the private helicopter owners from dealing with anyone other than the single manufacturer’s approved outlet.

He said: “Rotortech has been very active in trying to combat this trend and establish itself as a resource for the EC135 and MD902, and has recently signed working agreements with several aerospace-associated companies and aircraft operators in the UK. These include companies such as Telemetry Consultants Ltd who are the electronics developers behind Zenith Digital Downlink – recently installed in the three Metropolitan Police AS355Ns; and Turner Aviation which handles Rotortech’s requirements for avionic component repair, in return for mobile installation services.”