Quality Products to Help You Complete Your Mission.
We have the experience and know how to design and install all your equipment and service needs.
March 17. 2025
United Rotorcraft, a leader in critical mission systems and advanced aircraft modifications, and DART Aerospace, renowned for innovative aerospace solutions, are excited to announce a strategic partnership with Custom Helicopters Ltd, led by President Jed Hansen, as the launch customer for the Novel Super Puma Fire Attack System for the Airbus Super Puma family of rotorcraft. This groundbreaking system is set to revolutionize aerial firefighting, delivering unparalleled efficiency, safety, and operational performance. The system features an external belly-mounted water tank with a capacity of 4,000L designed to significantly enhance firefighting efforts from the air.
The Novel Super Puma Fire Attack System is specifically designed to enhance the capabilities of the Super Puma platform, offering cutting-edge technology to meet the demanding needs of modern aerial firefighting. With advanced precision, increased payload capacity, and enhanced safety features, this system represents a significant leap forward in wildfire suppression for firefighting operations around the world.
This strategic collaboration is driven by Larry Alexandre, President of United Rotorcraft, and Ryan Williamson, President of DART Aerospace. Their shared vision of advancing aerial firefighting technology is matched by Custom Helicopters’ leadership, vision, and belief in the new product. Custom Helicopters’ commitment to operational excellence has played a pivotal role in bringing this innovative solution to market.
Ground and flight testing are scheduled for April and March 2025, with STC submissions expected shortly thereafter. To showcase the system’s transformative capabilities, demonstration flights are planned to follow. These events will provide industry stakeholders with the opportunity to witness firsthand the enhanced performance and operational advantages offered by the Novel Super Puma Fire Attack System.
Larry Alexandre, President of United Rotorcraft, stated, “We are thrilled to partner with DART Aerospace and Custom Helicopters on this groundbreaking initiative. Our collaboration is the result of a shared purpose, saving lives through innovative technology. This new product represents a new milestone in aerial firefighting technology. We greatly value Custom Helicopters’ vision in championing this product while contributing to their continued leadership in the field.”
Ryan Williamson, President of DART Aerospace, added, “The Novel Super Puma Fire Attack System showcases our commitment to safety, reliability, and innovation. Our partnership with United Rotorcraft and Custom Helicopters exemplifies our dedication to advancing aerial firefighting solutions, and we look forward to demonstrating the system’s revolutionary capabilities in the upcoming flight tests.”
Jed Hansen, President of Custom Helicopters, commented, “Custom Helicopters is proud to be the launch customer for this transformative technology. Our belief in the Novel Super Puma Fire Attack System stems from our commitment to safety, efficiency, and operational excellence. We are excited to lead the industry in adopting this revolutionary solution.”
This strategic partnership between United Rotorcraft, DART Aerospace, and Custom Helicopters highlights a shared commitment to pioneering aerial firefighting solutions, setting new standards for safety and efficiency in the industry. Read more at https://www.helihub.com/2025/03/17/custom-helicopters-becomes-launch-customer-for-novel-super-puma-fire-attack-system/
March 12, 2025
United Rotorcraft, a provider of critical mission systems and advanced aircraft modifications, and DART Aerospace, renowned for innovative aerospace solutions, are excited to announce a strategic partnership with Custom Helicopters Ltd, led by president Jed Hansen, as the launch customer for the Novel Super Puma Fire Attack System for the Airbus Super Puma family of rotorcraft.
This groundbreaking system is set to revolutionize aerial firefighting, delivering unparalleled efficiency, safety, and operational performance. The system features an external belly-mounted water tank with a capacity of 4,000 liters designed to significantly enhance firefighting efforts from the air.
The Novel Super Puma Fire Attack System is specifically designed to enhance the capabilities of the Super Puma platform, offering cutting-edge technology to meet the demanding needs of modern aerial firefighting.
With advanced precision, increased payload capacity, and enhanced safety features, this system represents a significant leap forward in wildfire suppression for firefighting operations around the world.
This strategic collaboration is driven by Larry Alexandre, president of United Rotorcraft, and Ryan Williamson, president of DART Aerospace. Their shared vision of advancing aerial firefighting technology is matched by Custom Helicopters’ leadership, vision, and belief in the new product. Custom Helicopters’ commitment to operational excellence has played a pivotal role in bringing this innovative solution to market.
Larry Alexandre, president of United Rotorcraft, stated, “We are thrilled to partner with DART Aerospace and Custom Helicopters on this groundbreaking initiative. Our collaboration is the result of a shared purpose, saving lives through innovative technology. This new product represents a new milestone in aerial firefighting technology. We greatly value Custom Helicopters’ vision in championing this product while contributing to their continued leadership in the field.”
Ryan Williamson, president of DART Aerospace, added, “The Novel Super Puma Fire Attack System showcases our commitment to safety, reliability, and innovation. Our partnership with United Rotorcraft and Custom Helicopters exemplifies our dedication to advancing aerial firefighting solutions, and we look forward to demonstrating the system’s revolutionary capabilities in the upcoming flight tests.”
Jed Hansen, president of Custom Helicopters, commented, “Custom Helicopters is proud to be the launch customer for this transformative technology. Our belief in the Novel Super Puma Fire Attack System stems from our commitment to safety, efficiency, and operational excellence. We are excited to lead the industry in adopting this revolutionary solution.”
This press release was prepared and distributed by United Rotorcraft and DART Aerospace.
March 11, 2025
Skyryse®, the creator of SkyOS™, the world’s first fully digitized aircraft operating system for flight, and United Rotorcraft, a division of Air Methods, LLC, today announced plans for a strategic partnership wherein United Rotorcraft will provide FAA Part 145 MRO services to Skyryse as it begins shipping its upcoming Skyryse One helicopters. Additionally, United Rotorcraft will support the introduction of SkyOS into Airbus H-125 & H-130 helicopters, and the pursuit of integrating SkyOS into Black Hawk helicopter variants.
This partnership combines Skyryse’s industry-leading flight automation with United Rotorcraft’s mechanical and implementation expertise advancing safety, automation, and operational efficiency across multiple aviation segments. In particular, both United Rotorcraft and Skyryse are excited about the collaboration on additional Black Hawk utility variants, including those which play a critical role in wildfire suppression – a top-of-mind issue for Southern Californians in recent weeks.
“Our collaboration with United Rotorcraft represents a significant step forward in making aviation safer and more capable,” said Dr. Mark Groden, Founder and CEO of Skyryse. “Adding United Rotorcraft to the team gives us additional scale to deploy SkyOS more quickly and efficiently across multiple aircraft.”
The agreement marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration between the two companies, with additional opportunities for expansion into other aircraft platforms and advanced avionics integration. Today’s news comes just a few months after Skyryse announced contracts with the Army and ACE Aeronautics to integrate SkyOS into the Black Hawk.
“Safety shouldn’t be reserved for those who can afford it,” said Larry Alexandre, President of United Rotorcraft. “We see SkyOS as becoming an industry standard and are excited to be accelerating the speed of adoption across existing rotorcraft fleets.”
For more information on Skyryse and SkyOS, please visit the Skyryse website.
by AerialFire Staff April 17, 2024 in Aerial Fire News,
After a year of delays, Colorado’s Department of Fire Prevention and Control’s (DFPC) new Firehawk will make its first official flight, albeit a short one, from Denver’s Centennial Airport to Rocky Mountain Metro Airport for a press event with Governor Jared Polis Wednesday.
Completed by United Rotorcraft, the new S-70i Firehawk has been tied up in numerous delays for over a year from its original delivery date after the order was made in 2021 to purchase the aircraft for $24 million from United Rotorcraft.
The helicopter will be one of two ordered by the State of Colorado, adding two helicopters with firebombing capability to the state’s fleet, which includes two Pilatus PC-12 aircraft.
The many delivery delays initially expected in 2022 will finally end this week as delivery and acceptance occur after the state spent $2.4 million over the last year on a contract with Coulson Aviation to provide a pilot and mechanic for an aircraft that has yet to fly.
“The contract was not something that was easy to back out of, right. It was a one-year contract and we know that we have to have pilots and maintenance,” said Mike Morgan, Director of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. “There’s not a pause button on a contract. It was a one-year contract that we were kind of obligated to fulfill.”
“It was very frustrating that there were a lot of delays in the process that were beyond our control,” Morgan said. “But to be clear, it’s not like these crews have been sitting in an office twiddling their thumbs. We’ve sent them to schools, simulators, all these different things,” said Morgan in a statement given to 9News Denver.
The state still views the purchase of the Firehawks positively, stating that the economic damage that can span into hundreds of millions during large fires will easily offset the cost of the purchase of the helicopters in the long run as the aircraft will assist the DFPC in putting fires out earlier, thus saving on the economic impact of catastrophic fires like the Cameron Peak fire in 2020 that burned over 200,000 acres in the state.
The Part 145 repair station will be established at MRO Village in Jeddah
February 27, 2024
Saudia Technic (née Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries), one of Saudi Arabia’s leading aerospace companies, has partnered with United Rotorcraft to launch one of the region’s most comprehensive Part 145 helicopter MROs. The two companies held a formal signing ceremony on Tuesday at Heli-Expo 2024.
“The initiation of this collaboration is timely with the Kingdom’s surge in rotorcraft usage, spanning various sectors,” explained Saudia Technic CEO Fahd Cynndy. “With this partnership, we’re poised to lead this transformation.”
The move is aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which emphasizes the “localization” of crucial industries. The helicopter facility will be part of Saudia Technics’ MRO Village, an area dedicated to aircraft repair covering approximately one million square meters in Jeddah.
With more than a quarter-century of experience in helicopter maintenance and modifications in support of critical air operations, United Rotorcraft—an Air Methods subsidiary—will help develop the rotorcraft MRO into a center of excellence serving operators in Saudi Arabia and the surrounding region.
“It’s an honor to contribute to Saudia Technic’s visionary project,” said United Rotorcraft president Larry Alexandre. “Our combined efforts will not only establish a leading helicopter MRO in the region but will also cultivate local talent, contributing to Vision 2030 and fortifying the industry’s future.”
ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO, Oct. 12, 2023 – United Rotorcraft, a global leader in critical mission systems for nearly 30 years, and DART Aerospace, a Canadian aerospace company specialized in designing, manufacturing, and supporting helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft components and systems for nearly 43 years, announced today their partnership agreement to develop an aerial firefighting system for the Airbus Super Puma family of helicopters.
The new aerial firefighting system will consist of a fixed, external belly-mounted water tank with a capacity of 4000L (1056 gal) and system controls located in the cockpit. United Rotorcraft will also develop multi-mission equipment packages to extend the year-round value of the helicopter platform for operator-specific requirements. A key objective includes certification by FAA, EASA, and Transport Canada Supplemental Type Certificates (STC).
“Our purpose at United Rotorcraft is to provide emergency responders the tools needed to save lives, and protect property and the environment—something that we share at our core with DART Aerospace,” said United Rotorcraft President Larry Alexandre. “We are excited to be partnering with such a driven leader in the world of aviation to bring further innovation and versatility to the global aerial firefighting community by adding to our existing product portfolio.”
“This partnership solidifies DART’s position as a leader in the helicopter mission equipment industry. Together, United Rotorcraft and DART are reaffirming our commitment to delivering superior solutions to the firefighting market”, stated Alain Madore, President of DART Aerospace.
Currently, the companies leverage their experience producing similar aerial firefighting capabilities for other Type 1 helicopters. The new Super Puma system, an extension of their aerial firefighting solution portfolios, will provide the market with crucial wildfire attack capability for Type 1 rotorcraft where there is an estimated 25% capacity gap globally. With this long-term agreement, the team will identify and meet additional market requirements with a type-certified aerial firefighting system for operators of the Super Puma helicopter family, including new and legacy Airbus H225 and AS332 aircraft. Targeted end users include government agencies and commercial operators worldwide requiring a highly effective multi-mission solution.
Visit DART and United Rotorcraft at the Aerial Firefighting Europe Conference in Athens, Greece, 17–18 October 2023.
About United Rotorcraft:United Rotorcraft, an Air Methods Division, specializes in the innovation, integration, certification, and support of critical mission systems worldwide. United Rotorcraft offers a full range of systems, aircraft completion, and MRO services and products for Aerial Firefighting, Emergency Medical Services, Search and Rescue, Law Enforcement, Utility, and Military operators in the air and on the ground. To learn more, visit unitedrotorcraft.com.