Enstrom Helicopter Corporation has received FAA production certificate no 26CE. VP of quality assurance Doug Smith was on hand to receive it in person at the Minneapolis Manufacturing Inspection District Office (MIDO). The certificate authorises Enstrom to manufacture parts for all models of Enstrom helicopters, an important milestone for any aircraft OEM.

“I am so proud of the team at Enstrom,” says owner Chuck Surack. “To go from where we started to receiving a PC in only six months is just incredible. We are on pace to start delivering helicopters this spring, and in fact the first new Enstroms are already coming down the line.”

Enstrom Helicopter closed earlier this year after going bankrupt and, after MidTex failed to secure the funding to do so, was acquired by Surack Enterprises. Surack’s history with Enstrom dates to 2008 when he learned to fly helicopters and, before even obtaining his pilot’s license, he purchased a brand new Enstrom 480B. Enstrom is now part of the Surack Enterprises portfolio of aviation-related businesses: Sweet Aviation; Sweet Helicopters; and Aviation Specialty Insurance.

“This is really a testament to the relationship that Doug and VP of engineering Bill Taylor have with the FAA,” adds CEO Matt Francour. “It was a tremendous amount of work, but with their experience and knowledge we were able to get it completed in record time. We had been building parts for the last six months under our type certificate holder authorisation, which allowed us to support our customers, but with the PC in hand now we can start approving parts under our normal processes, which will really speed things up.”

Smith received the PC from FAA senior aviation safety inspector Gary Bockman at the Minneapolis MIDO, on a special day for Bockman as it was his last before a well-earned retirement.

“I've been working with Gary for nine years, and while he has always been by the book and held us to account, he and everyone at the MIDO have also always spared no effort to support us," says Smith. "The FAA has been a true partner, and together we've made Enstrom stronger and our aircraft safer. On behalf of everyone at Enstrom, I want to wish Gary all the best in retirement. He'll be missed.”