Rolls-Royce has announced the winners for its FIRST Network Quality Awards at Verticon 2026, the world's largest vertical aviation conference and trade show. The following members were honoured for their exceptional performance across four key categories: Best in Class, FIRST Class Service, Outstanding Partnership and Trusted to Deliver Excellence.

- Best in Class – Keystone Turbine Services in Coatesville, Pennsylvania: Represents the company recognised for standing out amongst its peers. A team commonly identified by Rolls-Royce and operators as a preferred maintenance provider; enjoyable to work with, committed to serving the market and continually performing above expectations.

- FIRST Class Service – Essential Turbines Malta: Given annually to the company that consistently goes above and beyond to meet its customers' needs. A team that continually demonstrates a 'can-do' mindset; proactively works with its customers to overcome challenges, anticipates their needs and implements creative solutions to keep its customers in the air.

- Outstanding Partnership – StandardAero in Hampshire, UK: This award recognises the company that is an enabling partner and integral to the overall success of the Rolls-Royce FIRST Network. This team is critical to market success by consistently developing innovative and cost-effective capabilities to support the operator, the FIRST Network and Rolls-Royce.

- Trusted to Deliver Excellence – Asia Pacific Aerospace in Australia: Recognises the company identified for consistently delivering on promises. A team that performs in accordance with a 'promises made, promises kept' mindset and continually goes out of its way to ensure performance matches its commitments while being counted on to deliver quality every time.

Anthony Hancock, Rolls-Royce FIRST Network manager, says: “Our FIRST Network Quality Awards celebrate the gold standard in helicopter engine maintenance. We're honoured to spotlight this year's winners for upholding the world-class reliability and service that define Rolls-Royce.”

With more than 16,000 turboshaft and turboprop engines in service and 4,500 customers worldwide, the Rolls-Royce FIRST Network provides M250 and RR300 operators a global network of authorised MRO service centres. The FIRST Network includes more than 30 approved, licensed service centres, and its competitive structure means operators can find affordable and reliable service anywhere for Rolls-Royce M250 or RR300 engines.

The proven Rolls-Royce M250 and RR300 engines have powered more than 275 million flight hours of dependable service around the world. To date, more than 33,000 of these workhorse engines have been delivered to the marketplace.

StandardAero's Fleetlands, Hampshire UK facility was honoured with the Outstanding Partnership award, which recognises facilities that serve as enabling partners and are integral to the overall success of the Rolls-Royce FIRST Network. StandardAero consistently develops innovative and cost-effective capabilities that support operators, the FIRST Network, and Rolls-Royce.

“We are thrilled to be recognised by Rolls-Royce for outstanding partnership,” says Raymond Franczuk, interim vice president and general manager of helicopter programmes for StandardAero. “The recognition reflects the focus our team puts on safety, quality and execution every day. Together with Rolls-Royce, we remain committed to supporting operators with the exceptional performance they expect.”