Piedmont Propulsion Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of First Aviation Services based in Winston Salem, North Carolina, has received FAA certification for the MRO of the Van Horn Aviation 206/OH-58 tail rotor blade with capability for the main rotor blade to follow shortly.

The tail rotor, with its carbon fibre skin, laminar-flow airfoil and titanium root, has gained acceptance in the 206/OH-58 market. The Van Horn blade said to be quieter, with longer service life and lower operating costs than the OEM blade. Paul Bolton, technical director of Piedmont Propulsion Systems says: “We are very pleased to be designated by Van Horn Aviation as an authorised service centre and look forward to providing exceptional service to Bell operators.”

PPS previously announced that it has received Source Approval Request for the Blackhawk rotor hub, which complemented the company’s many decades experience in propeller hub assemblies for all leading propeller product lines. PPS’s sister company Aviation Blade Services is a leading independent MRO facility supporting Blackhawk helicopter and nearly all legacy Sikorsky rotor blades.