Company Recertified By The FAA For Float Production

PK Floats is back in the business of building floats for aircraft after regaining certification from the FAA.

The company had closed three years ago after the death of the owner Alton Bouchard. According to the company website, it was purchased in 2015 by SR Aviation. This purchase coupled with a substantial investment in the Lincoln, Maine facility breathed new life back into the company. The company restarted production in the fall of last year.

The company is now under the leadership of company president Patrick McGowan, a former Maine conservation commissioner and legislator.

The Bangor Daily News reports that the FAA's certification came on January 14, which McGowan said is a very fast turnaround on its documentation. Such certification can sometimes take years, he told the paper.

The rebirth of the company was aided by improvements to the airport where PK Floats is located. The improvements are part of a larger project to bring new business into the region, including a nearby industrial park. The town invested $65,000 to bring three-phase electric service to the area. The electric project was completed about two weeks ago.

The paper reports that PK Floats has already built or sold half the 20 sets of floats it had targeted for 2016. It is also planning to expand its product line to include skis, and floats for two additional airplane types, McGowan said.

McGowan said he wants to continue to grow, but is going slow. "We can't go rushing into the market and not meet customer's expectations," he said.

(Image from PK Floats Facebook timeline)

FMI: http://www.pkfloats.com/#!history/yjg1n