Mattituck Services’ History Goes Back To 1946

Teledyne Technologies, parent company of Continental Engines is closing its engine overhaul shop at Mattituck, Long Island. The slow recovery being experienced by general aviation has meant the shop’s workload has been cut in half in recent years. Facility director Michael Gifford said “It was not an easy decision to make and we very much regret the closure, but in these economic times, especially since 2009, it’s become very difficult to sustain the two facilities we run with the current business level.” The company has a second, larger facility in Fairhope, Alabama where all operations will be consolidated.

Mattituck Services got its start in 1946 when Parker Wickham of Mattituck, NY converted part of his family’s potato farm into a small airport and opened an aircraft engine rebuilding shop. The Wickhams sold the engine business in 1984, only to buy it back four years later. The business was sold again in 1999 to Teledyne Technologies. One year ago Teledyne Continental Motors and Mattituck Services were acquired by the Chinese firm Technify Motors through a $186 million deal. Technify Motors builds fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.

As recently as 2005, the shop was overhauling roughly 500 engines a year. The workforce had dropped at that point to 45 people; it currently employs about 20 people.

FMI: www.continentalmotors.aero