In recent years, Constant Aviation has been dedicating additional resources to these platforms.
Constant Aviation has expanded its MRO capabilities to include rotorcraft such as helicopters, drones, and other Commercial Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). As part of this initiative, Constant is completely refurbishing the Sikorsky S-76 helicopters flown by Flexjet’s new private helicopter division. The interiors of each helicopter are being refurbished in Flexjet’s LXi custom cabin interiors, with the first being the “Phantom” interior theme. All veneers are being refinished and all soft goods (seats, carpets, and side walls) are being restored with new materials rich with texture. The newly painted livery was designed by Constant Aviation to pay homage to Flexjet’s distinctive business jet liveries which include a chameleon paint with an added carbon fiber accent on the upper cowling and leading edge on the vertical tail.
David H. Davies, Constant Aviation’s Chief Executive Officer said, “We have striven to be at the forefront of aviation technology in all its forms, including servicing helicopters and emerging technologies such as Commercial Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Our expansion into these sectors positions us well for the future, including our ability to serve even newer emerging technologies such as Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft. We are fully staffed and equipped to service any private aircraft that can fly, from fixed-wing aircraft such as business jets to helicopters, drones, and other rotorcraft.”
The private helicopter division refurbishments are being performed at Constant Aviation’s maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility at Orlando Sanford International Airport (ICAO: KSFB).
Davies added, “We are proud that Flexjet has chosen us to ensure that its private helicopters meet its exacting standards. The refurbishment demonstrates how we have successfully expanded our offering to include providing maintenance, repair, and overhaul services to helicopters and other rotorcraft. The aviation industry is evolving quickly, with new systems coming to the fore, especially in vertical flight and unmanned systems. We want to be positioned as the leader in servicing these newer forms of flight, and have been expanding our capabilities to offer them the same levels of skill, speed, and quality that we have long provided to business jets and other fixed-wing aircraft.”
Constant Aviation’s expansion into helicopter MRO services is a natural step in ensuring the company remains at the forefront of aviation maintenance needs across the full range of aircraft. It also prepares Constant Aviation for the next generation of rotorcraft that will require MRO services. The expertise developed with helicopters and other traditional rotorcraft systems strategically positions the company to serve emerging technology areas such as UAS and eVTOLs, which employ similar engineering, materials, and systems.
In recent years, Constant Aviation has been dedicating additional resources to these platforms, including adding even more FAA-authorized capabilities to its repair station certificates. These have the express purpose of working tip-to-tail on today’s helicopters, UAS, and, eventually, eVTOLs that require specific expertise that frequently is not aligned with standard repair station capabilities and issued ratings.
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In 2021 Constant Aviation renewed its partnership with Robotic Skies, a global marketplace for drone maintenance services, to support next-generation aviation sector UAS. With one of the nation’s largest aircraft-on-ground (AOG) mobile fleets, Constant Aviation can repair drones wherever they may be, an important consideration given how widely such vehicles are now used in business and industry. The continuation of this partnership, which resulted in Constant Aviation becoming an authorized UAS service center in 2017, positioned the two companies at the forefront of these emerging markets.
