Companies Partnered On Several Projects

DART Helicopter Services recently purchased the stock of Apical Industries, Inc. Apical designs and manufactures emergency flotation and evacuation equipment for helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.

Apical is a longtime affiliated partner of the worldwide helicopter accessories distributor and manufacturer. DART has been the exclusive distributor of Apical products for more than three years.

DART tells ANN the move strengthens its drive to significantly broaden its internal engineering and manufacturing capabilities. Apical’s headquarters will remain in Oceanside, CA and its management structure will remain intact. DART purchased Kent, WA-based electronics accessory designer and manufacturer Geneva Aviation in December 2006.

"Adding Apical as a permanent member of the growing DHS family of companies gives us additional engineering and manufacturing capability," said DHS President Jeff Shapiro. "The addition of Apical brings our engineering staff to nearly 20 and assures our customers of continued development of the accessories that make their helicopters safer and more efficient."

Apical's product line includes emergency flotation devices that allow helicopters of all sizes to land and stay afloat in water during an emergency. Another exclusive feature of Apical floats is the addition of detachable life rafts as part of the float structure.

"Being part of the DHS family of companies will provide significant market reach as Apical utilizes its certification expertise to broaden its product offerings in the future," stated Ron Gladnick, president of Apical Industries.

"Having been closely associated with Apical for some time, we are impressed with the quality and innovative nature of its products," Shapiro said. "We believe adding Apical’s expertise to DHS will be a significant benefit to the rest of our product line and to our worldwide customers."

DART and its affiliated company, DART Aerospace Inc., own nearly 400 STCs and manufactures more than 500 products. The company distributes more than 1,300 aftermarket products to more than 120 countries.

FMI: www.darthelicopterservices.com, www.dartaero.com