Parts & Support for Enstrom Operators Ensured

Enstrom Helicopter Corporation has been given FAA Production Certificate Number 26CE, hopefully teeing up the company for a wonderful 2023.

Enstrom Helicopter Corp hit a rough patch in 2022, hammered into Chapter 7 bankruptcy by years of economic grind, including inflation and slackening helicopter demand throughout the pandemic. On top of all those issues, the slowdown of the world’s economic engine imperiled the logistics chain at every level, leaving Enstrom boxed in on all sides just as the world returned to normalcy.

Enstrom found a partner in Chuck Surack, of Sweetwater Sound fame, who sheltered the wounded company under the Sweetwater umbrella alongside his Sweet Helicopters, and Sweet Aviation brands. Surack, himself a longtime friend, customer, and student at Enstrom, has surrounded the company with friends and enthusiasts from around the state, setting up the manufacturer for a resurgent comeback. The new production certificate enables Enstrom to manufacture all parts for extant Enstrom aircraft, ensuring a constant stream of support for the firm's existing products. 

“I am so proud of the team at Enstrom,” said Chuck Surack, Enstrom’s owner. “To go from where we started to receiving a PC in only six months is just incredible. We are on pace to start delivering helicopters this spring, and in fact the first new Enstroms are already coming down the line!”

“This is really a testament to the relationship that Doug and Bill Taylor (Enstrom VP of Engineering) have with the FAA,” added Enstrom CEO Matt Francour.

“It was a tremendous amount of work, but with their experience and knowledge we were able to get it completed in record time. We had been building parts for the last six months under our Type Certificate holder authorization, which allowed us to support our customers, but with the PC in hand now we can start approving parts under our normal processes, which will really speed things up.”

FMI: www.enstromhelicopter.com