Will Carry Out Helicopter Testing, MRO At Whiting Aviation Park

Leonardo Helicopters and HPM announced the completion and grand opening of a state-of-the-art customer support center in Milton, Florida, adjacent to the U.S. Naval Air Station Whiting Field (NASWF). HPM managed the project including budget, compliance, scheduling, planning, and construction.

The Leonardo Helicopters Florida Support Center encompasses 73,000 square feet with four large hangar bays, major MRO capabilities, a dynamic test bench, a full-sized paint booth, and all the necessary tooling and equipment.

 A large parts warehouse is co-located with the shop to provide highly efficient supply chain response for the Navy’s TH-73 fleet at NASWF. The facility will also service fleets for commercial customers throughout the Gulf region.

Ryan Austin, President of HPM said, “We are proud to have successfully delivered this state-of-the-art aviation support center to Northwest Florida to support Leonardo’s extensive fleet of aircraft. Milton and the surrounding area continue to serve as a beacon of growth for the aviation and aerospace industries, and the demand for facilities of this caliber is only growing. Our team leveraged extensive knowledge and expertise in the sector to provide quality program management services and ensure the project adhered to the budget and construction timeline.”

HPM worked with Santa Rosa County and Space Florida to select the site at Whiting Aviation Park for the customer support facility. The aviation park is situated on 267 acres of industrially zoned land owned by Santa Rosa County. It comes with a unique limited access use agreement between the county and the Navy that allows tenants access to NASWF’s 6,000-foot runway and air traffic control services.

Clyde Woltman, CEO of Leonardo Helicopters U.S. said, "This facility reflects the power of partnership. With its proximity to NAS Whiting Field, we're proud to offer world-class sustainment for the TH-73A program while expanding support for civil operators in the region. None of this would be possible without the shared vision of Santa Rosa County, Space Florida, Triumph Gulf Coast, the U.S. Navy, and our many community partners. Together, we've built more than a facility—we've built a foundation for mission success."

FMI:  hpmleadership.com/ , usa.leonardo.com/