Recoil Aerospace, a US technology company specialising in advanced aerial firefighting solutions and modifications, has added Keith Ray to the leadership team as its new vice president of sales and business development for North America. Ray brings decades of leadership in building long-term customer relationships and in product development and strategy in the rotorcraft and aerospace industries.

With his extensive experience, Ray brings with him a proven track record of driving revenue growth, expanding market share and building high-performing sales organisations. His background spans key account management, government contracts, OEM and aftermarket sales, dealer network development and full product lifecycle management.

Most recently, he served as senior director of sales for helicopters at BLR Aerospace, where he managed global technical sales and directed customer support for rotorcraft performance products. In this role, he assisted in building and supporting the global dealer network and enabled pre-certification programmes to reduce flight test costs and timelines.

Previously, Ray spent more than two decades at Aeronautical Accessories, part of Bell Helicopter, serving as sales manager and key accounts and government contract manager. There, he acted as a primary customer advocate, translating regulatory and operational needs into product development and quality standards, while helping expand the company's catalogue into one of the world's leading sources of FAA STC'd aftermarket helicopter products.

“Keith's depth of industry knowledge, strategic mindset and customer-focused approach make him an outstanding addition to the Recoil team,” shares Recoil president Joseph Rice. “We are confident his wealth of experience and leadership expertise will only serve to strengthen our team.”

Recoil Aerospace is participating in the Vertical Aviation International's Verticon 2026 exhibition that will be held in March in Atlanta, Georgia, and will be displaying its Tsunami Tanks. These products showcase Recoil's commitment to operational and mission readiness, providing a clear advantage in performance within challenging environments, along with customer service and support in the field that is second to none.

Recoil is the only US-based company producing these types of next-generation fuselage-mounted or in-cabin AFSS tanks, in partnership with its Kentucky-based affiliate Aerospace Composites Solutions (ACS), which operates an AS9100-certified aerospace manufacturing facility.