For many aviation companies, the rotorcraft segment has provided some welcome stability against an uncertain economic environment. Global parts supplier Aviall is no exception and is responding to market conditions by focusing on end-customer support, and in particular reducing turnaround times for urgently needed parts and maintenance services.
Aviall (Booth No. 4317) maintains 40 customer service and parts centers throughout the U.S., Europe and the Asia-Pacific, as well as 20 FAA-certified repair centers. “The helicopter market is one of our very important market segments, and we remain committed to it,” said Charlie Elkins, Aviall’s senior managing director of marketing and supplier services. “We will continue to devote significant resources to this segment, with our primary focus on ensuring that resources are near customers when they need them.”
In addition to the Rolls-Royce 250 and 300 engine lines, Aviall is taking the opportunity at Heli-Expo to highlight a wide-array of other products it offers in the rotorcraft segment. That includes Honeywell fuel controls for the RR250 and Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 turbines, as well as fuel lines, batteries and filters.
Aviall, a wholly owned Boeing subsidiary, offers more than two million parts from more than 235 aerospace manufacturers, with civil rotorcraft product sales–mostly engine components–representing between 7 and 10 percent of total annual revenues for the company, according to Elkins. That diversification has helped offset uncertainty in the company’s military business, which represents approximately one-quarter of Aviall’s revenue, in the face of sequestration concerns.
“Our rotorcraft business continues to grow, through both market share capture and overall growth,” he told AIN. “Nevertheless, the general aviation and business aviation markets remain somewhat unpredictable, so we have made a commitment to ensure product availability. We are also investing heavily in maintaining inventories of products that are not exclusive to our company.”
Elkins said fleet operators make up the largest percentage of Aviall’s product sales, along with turbine engine and accessory shops independent of those fleets. Heli-Expo provides a welcome opportunity, he concluded, “to meet with our OEM clients, as well as the customers who use our products everyday.” –R.F.
