Canada-based Dart Aerospace has acquired the aircraft equipment manufacturer Paravion Technology and its MRO/service centre arm Century Helicopters.

Fort Collins, Colorado-based Paravion Technology designs, manufactures and sells a variety of aftermarket accessories and OEM equipment for a wide range of aircraft and helicopters. It launched in 1985 and today offers an extensive list of products including environmental control systems such as heating and air conditioning, camera mount systems and its trademark Heliporter ground handling unit for helicopters. The company holds close to 70 FAA certifications and more than 200 foreign validations including EASA, TCCA and PMA approvals for replacement parts. This includes environmental control systems certified under OEM type certificates.

“Paravion's diverse quality product offering, when paired with Dart's powerful global marketing strength, opens incredible opportunities to boost Paravion's products and expand Dart's leadership as a one-stop mission equipment supplier,” says Dart president and CEO Alain Madore.

The acquisition will allow the mission equipment and replacement parts manufacturer to broaden and diversify its product portfolio with over 1,500 STCs. It will enable Dart to offer several exciting new product categories to its global network of OEMs and helicopter operators, including heating and air conditioning systems and the Heliporter tug.

Century Helicopters has built a reputation of strong completion expertise in the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) completion arena. Its facilities will remain focused on serving its existing customers and its ISR contracts, leveraging its completion expertise to expand and grow this business segment for Dart.

“This is an exciting time for Paravion and our customers,” says Paravion and Century president and CEO Larry Hansen. “This blending of capabilities and products will provide increased support and opportunity to our current customers and, through Dart's extensive network, bring quality Paravion products to a larger share of the market.”

For more than 35 years, Paravion has served thousands of operators around the world with a strong commitment to quality and service. Its products meet or exceed safety, quality and reliability demands within the industry. It will transition into operating under the Dart brand, which with the acquisition expands to nine locations worldwide, including four manufacturing centres of excellence.