Helicopter OEM Schweizer is expanding its factory overhaul services under its FAA Part 145 repair station certification to help reduce customer costs. New services now available for the S333, S300C and S300CBi helicopters include overhauls of main and tail rotor gearboxes, landing gear dampeners and actuators.

"Schweizer customers are asking for ways to cut costs in aircraft ownership, and we've responded," says president and CEO David Horton. "We possess the only approved test stand in the world for Schweizer main and tail rotor gear boxes. With the receipt of our repair station certificate, we can now perform cost effective critical component overhauls for customers in house."

Schweizer received FAA Part 145 Repair Station certification in November 2023, allowing it to repair and overhaul its aircraft and components under an FAA-approved quality system.

By providing increased overhaul services for labour-intensive components, Schweizer reduces the overhead and delays associated with field overhauls. Schweizer now provides these services faster and at new lower costs for its customers, and is also investing in on-the-shelf components that will be available for exchange where minimising customer's down time is critical.

Additionally, it is exploring opportunities to repair components that are currently only replaceable, further reducing costs.

"Manufacturing processes for our products date back to the 1950s and 1960s," Horton adds. "For instance, some part manufacturing is approved for casting only when we can machine the same part today much more economically. By modernising and gaining FAA approval for new processes, we can again reduce costs, which we pass along to our customers."