Air Technology Engines (ATE) of Naples, Fla., signed a T53 service center agreement with Honeywell, authorizing ATE to repair and overhaul Honeywell’s T53 series engine, which powers the Bell UH-1H Huey and other helicopters.

ATE (Booth No. 1205) is an FAA and EASA certified repair station, which also is qualified to ISO9001:2000 quality standards. The company overhauls and upgrades gas turbine engines, transmissions and dynamic components used in firefighting, military and law enforcement helicopters. ATE provides specialized parts repairs and stocks more than 20,000 line item parts. It maintains all models of the T53 engine, as well as main transmissions and major components for the UH-1H, 205, 212, 206, OH-58 and AH-1.

The T53 has accumulated more than 50 million flight hours since its introduction as the powerplant for the Bell UH-1, according to Honeywell. More than 19,000 of the model power the UH-1H, Huey II and AH-1F Cobra, the Kaman K-Max and Fuji Bell 205B.

“ATE’s extensive MRO capability along with its use of Honeywell parts and technical support will ensure T-53s operate at peak performance for our global customer base,” said Brian Sill, Honeywell vice president of defense aftermarket for the Americas.

ATE is one of two Honeywell-authorized T53 service centers in the U.S. McTurbine of Corpus Christi, Texas, an affiliate of Bell Helicopter Textron, is the second authorized service center.

“Air Technology Engines strives to provide fast and efficient services to operators worldwide,” said Mike Turner, ATE president. “We are very pleased to now be an authorized Honeywell service center and we anticipate that with more business worldwide, we also will be able to create new jobs for southwest Florida. We are excited about both prospects.”