Problems at MD - merged threads

[Bearintheair]

Yet again the claimed improvement in AOG spares is found wanting. Our aircraft went for its Annual on 8 May and very soon afterwards corrosion was found on the MR Mast and it was declared u/s. There appear to be no spares available until the next delivery to MD from the maunfacturer sometime at the end of June - a 6 week-ish AOG delivery at best !!!!!
This is the third time in 14 months and the second in 4 months where the part we are AOG for is one of the "exceptions" to the AOG delivery improvement and we are having to put up with significant downtime.

:{:ugh:

[a1w]

Taken directly from MD website.....

"Requests for spares are handled on a priority basis. The highest priority goes to "AOG" -Aircraft On Ground. These parts are on their way within 24 hours after receipt of the order. Shipment is by the means specified by the customer on the order -usually by freight.

The second priorities are routine orders. Routine orders are shipped within 72 hours after receipt of order, by the means stipulated by the customer. The company stocks more than 10,000 separate part number, plus complete modification kits and accessory installation kits."

Just doesn't seem to be the case!!!! :sad:

[diethelm]

If you need a serviceable main rotor mask, send me a pm and I can probably direct you to someone who has a few. This assumes it is for a 369 and not a 900.

[handysnaks]

He'd never get off the ground in a 369!!!;)

[Bearintheair]

Thanks Andy !!!!

I'd ask to borrow yours but I gather you might be needing it for some time yet !!!:)

[handysnaks]

It'll be ready in an engineers month!!

and I was only joshing:p

[5.0]

Google Fight! (http://www.googlefight.com/index.php?lang=en_GB&word1=MD902&word2=EC135)

[Bertie Thruster]

Look at it a different way!
http://www.googlefight.com/index.php?lang=en_GB&word1=MD+EXPLORER&word2=EC135

[handysnaks]

Look, this is pointless
Another predictable result (http://www.googlefight.com/index.php?lang=en_GB&word1=MD+EXPLORER+or+EC+135&word2=an+old+bag+of+nails)

[quichemech]

Bear,

can't they lend you one off of that yellow import?

[dr atkins]

Nope,

The yellow import will be doing some fund raising flights very soon.

[quichemech]

Yeah................

Of course it will:rolleyes:

[Flaxton Flyer]

Why steal the bits from the "yellow import"? I believe that the W. Yorks police 902 is going in for a bit of an avionics re-fit - perhaps they could keep it in "the family" and borrow from there?

[Bearintheair]

It'd be nice to get one from somewhere !! This thread and an email to Ms Tilton have certainly stirred them up at MDH but as yet no firm date for supply !

[quichemech]

Does she read pprune?:rolleyes:

[Thomas coupling]

Does she care? She's still smarting over the LUH programme defeat.:ouch:

[jayteeto]

I think she cares about the reputation, from what I read in the journals, this is one lady I would not like to cross!! Although there have been a lot of 'them versus us' banter threads, please note it was started by an MD operator. If Bear is right, they may have accellerated their spare part by posting here. If that works then use everything available!!

[a1w]

Is it true that the Met went for the 145 mainly due to this type of problem with MD?? In which case maybe they should note the business they are losing with their current reputation!! :confused:

[Bearintheair]

My email to Ms Tilton at her advertised email address certainly got through and it appears that MDH monitor pprune as well. We've certainly stirred them enough to open the lines of communication if not the lines of supply !!!!!

[CS-Hover]

http://www.verticalmag.com/control/news/articlefiles/5201-logo_mdhi.gif


Customer Survey Gives Top Ratings to MDHI for Product Support and Service
Monday, August 20, 2007 / MD Helicopters

A resurgent MD Helicopters, Inc., captured the No. 2 position for overall product support and service excellence among rotorcraft OEMs in a survey administered by Forecast International for Aviation International News. Complete results are published in the magazine’s August 2007 edition.

“ ‘The Phoenix is Rising,’ is the mantra we sing, and our rise in the ratings clearly supports our verse,” said MDHI Chairman and CEO Lynn Tilton. “These survey results provide third-party support to that which we have accomplished and speak volumes to our success. I hope they will finally silence those who want the rotorcraft world to think otherwise.”

Sikorsky, Eurocopter, Agusta, and Aerospatiale trailed MDHI in the rotorcraft segment, where overall ratings for product support and service fell by 1.53 percent. MDHI topped all other rotorcraft OEMS in the categories of “Authorized Service Centers,” and “Cost of Parts.”

In the “Authorized Service Center” category, customers rated cost estimates vs. actual, on-time performance, scheduling ease, and service experience. “Cost of Parts” evaluated value for price paid.

Other categories in the survey included “Factory Service Centers,” “Parts Availability,” “AOG Response,”"Warranty Fulfillment,” “Technical Manuals,” “Technical Reps,” and “Overall Product Reliability.”

Improving product support has been the top priority for Tilton since she acquired MDHI in 2005. Additional priorities include selling, building, delivering aircraft, and establishing a streamlined, vertically integrated company. “We have stated the course and have lived true to our vision. It is nice to see that the improvements have been acknowledged,” she said. “The survey results reflect our truth.”

MDHI has dramatically improved service and support to an installed base of approximately 3,000 aircraft. Aircraft on Ground (AOG) have been reduced by 90 percent. More than 85 percent of orders are shipped within four hours of request. There are six new authorized service centers. Aircraft sales and deliveries are also on the rise. The company has delivered 20 helicopters in 2007 and is on track to deliver 23 more before year’s end. MDHI’s new manufacturing facility in Monterrey, Mexico, is delivering single-engine fuselages and supporting Tilton’s vertical integration strategy.

###

About MD Helicopters, Inc.

MD Helicopters, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of commercial and military helicopters. The MDHI family of rotorcraft is world renowned for its value, versatility and performance. The MD Helicopters family includes the twin-engine MD Explorer®, and single engine versions of the MD 600N®, MD 520N®, MD 500E® and MD 530F®. The NOTAR® system for anti-torque control is used exclusively by MD Helicopters. The company is based in Mesa, Ariz. For more information about MDHI visit http://www.mdhelicopters.com/.

About Patriarch Partners

Patriarch Partners, LLC is a private equity and investment firm in New York, North Carolina and Texas. Patriarch provides innovative financial solutions, strategic direction and operational expertise to companies undergoing periods of pervasive change. Funds affiliated with Patriarch manage assets in excess of $6 billion and include majority and minority ownership positions in more than 67 companies.

[Tango and Cash]

If you read your own press releases long enough, you actually start believing them... I'm just a wee bit skeptical, maybe when the Pro-Pilot survey puts MD on top I'll start believing.

[Lutefisk989]

agreed. i love the spin that the marketing folks publish...

[CS-Hover]

agreed. i love the spin that the marketing folks publish...
isn't only the media's .... :ugh:
so, out there in the field, is more of the same????
(before u start)
no hidden agenda, only think a new player in the game "should" improve the game... (but maybe is not the time, yet :D)

[Mark Nine]

The fact that they surveyed Aerospatiale raises a few eye-brows.:rolleyes:

[Hughes500]

I am a big fan of the product with 2 x 500's. However 2 of my customers have recently been trying to buy new ones but cant. Customer no1 was quoted Nov 06 USD1,057,000 for a new 500E decided to buy one 2 months ago to find the price had gone up by $ 300.000.00. MD will not even talk to him about it
Customer 2 lives in New York for 6 months of the year. Asked the factory for a price, told to contact local dealer. He contacted local dealer 6 times. Told someone would come back to him. Guess what 3 weeks later no contact he is now talking to Eurocopter. Lynn I am afraid you need to ger a grip of this as you have lost 2 sales this year. How many 500's do you build, lets say 20 a year. So you have turned down 10 % of your business, let alone the bad PR this has for MD.
The upshot of this survey is obviously marketing hype

[lartsa]

hughes 500
the uk dealer has a brand new one for sale eastern atlantic at shoreham

[chopperdr]

well done on MD's part to get customer support back on track.

however, i have heard that the customer support manager was let go. cannot confirm, however, imho a major mistake, we deal with all the major mfgs on a weekly, sometimes daily basis in product development. the gentleman in question at MD was the very best and our "go to" guy, cannot say thanks enough to him for his help over the years.

NP, thanks again for your support
cal

[andTompkins]

You have to have something to hang on to and remind you of how great you used to be, right?

[Big-Windy]

Way to go.

The 902 is a fab chopper. Well thought out, powerful and fun to fly. Sorry to appear biased but, having flown Ec135 and 902 I'm a confirmed 902 fan, big time!

:ok:

[Bertie Thruster]

I agree. Get in. Switch on. Go.

Why do EC have to make the same process 100% more complicated?


...plus the P+W engines/fadec combo..........3200hrs in 6 years. Over 12800 starts.

...not one problem.

[quichemech]

Maybe that's why WMIDS went for the pratt option on the 135.:D

[Brilliant Stuff]

And East mids.

[quichemech]

True, but WMids had a few years an thousands of hours experience of the 206/207 series engine with very few problems on their explorer and that machine lived most of its time sat out in all weathers.

Great engines!!!!!:ok:

[Hughes500]

Anyone out there know how to get hold of Lynn Tilton ( tried her e mail ) ?
One of my customers has been let down by an MD distributor on a new one,they come up with all sorts of lame excuses why they are refusing to supply one. He has e mailed and complained to Miss T and has not had the courtsey of a reply. It seems unbelievable that they want to turn down the sale of a new machine !!!!!!!!!!!!! My man even had exchanged sterling into $ 500k for the deposit.

[handysnaks]

Well they've just sold 4 902s to Calstar so it can't be that bad

[Cyclic Hotline]

Glad to see that normal service levels are being maintained.

Never, ever, again for this former MD operator.

[Scissorlink]

maybe they should get together with eurocopter :ugh:

[ppheli]

LT will be at Heli-Expo. She's listed as presenting 2.20-2.40pm at the HAI's 2nd Annual Airframe Manufacturer CEO Forum on Monday, February 25, 2008 (event runs 1:30 p.m. until 4:00 p.m) in the Theater of the George R. Brown Convention Center. see http://rotor.com/Default.aspx?tabid=510&newsid905=57841&

There's probably an MD press conference too.

[tigerfish]

handysnaks! I would be a little careful about reading press releases too quickly! As I read it ( & it is infront of me ) it states " Recently bought a refurbished, nearly $4 million MD 902 Explorer" It then goes on to say " Calstar has entered into contracts to purchase 4 more of the MD 902's and and station them ......."

I remain unsure whether these are new builds or refurbished machines. I suspect the latter!
Tigerfish.

[ppheli]

Tigerfish. I understand your scepticism, but check MD's press release from HAI (http://www.shephard.co.uk/Rotorhub/ShowReportItem.aspx?ID=bf177592-bc5d-4ca5-b030-ec19f1d62de4) on this CALSTAR order to see that it is five NEW Explorers and options for TEN MORE!!

[ppheli]

and just to prove LT was in Houston (where she expressed an interest in buying a VLJ manufacturer)......

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg162/jwparkin/lynntilton.jpg

[Brilliant Stuff]

I am sorry but she needs soemone to dress her properly before they let her loose on the public. IMHO.

[malabo]

No, she wants to dress that pornstar look, part of her strategy to distract the rubes. As for adding credibility to MD as a serious player...her company, her strategy.

From the "New York Observer" interview, October 15, 2006:

She’s a woman operating at the highest level in the male-dominated sphere of “boys’ toys,” and within another male-dominated sphere—finance. And in the world of girls’ toys, too: She embraces stiletto heels (her newly arrived pair looked six inches), revealing décolletage and lots of leather.

But both ultimately have reference to her position in a man’s game.

“I always show cleavage,” she said flirtatiously. “You’ve got to give men what they want. And I’m trying to keep their eyes in my eyes. So at least they’re up here,” she added, gesturing in the general area of her eyes and breasts. “I hate when people don’t make eye contact. I can’t shift them the way I need them if they’re not looking in my eyes.

“I’m not trying to seduce men to get them into my bed,” she said. “But am I trying to seduce men and mesmerize them as I move my cause forward? Yeah.”

[Brilliant Stuff]

Fine I am happy to agree with her ideas, and yes she does need to use all the tricks she can to get people to take her seriously, but in that picture her breasts are basically without constraints. You can dress classy but in that picture it's seems to look more cheap. But hey what do I care. Kudos to her though for what she has achieved up to now. Bringing MD back from the brink was a herculean task.

[EN48]

I was there the day this photo was made and observed first hand. Definitely not attire befitting a serious CEO, or even a classy, appealing woman. Too tight, too short, more revealing than most want to know, at least in public. Suggests cheap hooker, not classy, sexy woman, IMHO. This may be her "strategy" but in my opinion it works against her. My reaction overall: "You've got to be kidding!"

[EN48]

Be assured that these photos are quite flattering and taken at perhaps a much younger age. When I saw these prior to HAI I was thinking "wow!"

On the other side of the coin, if she were male instread of female, few if any would be commenting on her (his?) appearance. Unfortunately for her, this style of dress ( at HAI) provokes comments, which may well be part of the "strategy."

[Brilliant Stuff]

Nothing wrong with age. And the other two pictures show her more akin to her achievements. But she can afford a bra which is all I was saying in the first place.

[EN48]

Nothing wrong with age.


Exactly! I know women in their sixties and seventies who I consider to be beautiful and appealing, but they dont dress like this. More in an understated, sophisticated style.

For those here who consider discussing a woman's appearance inappropriate, all I can say is that men are programmed this way; some just keep it concealed better than others! Survival of the species or something like that.

[diethelm]

As far as I am concerned, as long as the parts show up she can walk around any way she wants.

[heli1]

Of course what you can't see very well in the Houston picture is the pure diamond necklace and ear rings she was wearing...must have been at least 200 on the string and enough to keep the mines in production ,never mind MD.

The problem now with MD is more the image and comments made by LT than the good work done behind the scenes to get the company back on track..and not helped now by her threats to relocate if she doesn't get the lease she wants at Mesa .

[500e]

The lady must be doing something correctly how many of us manage 20B$ ?
MD is back to some form of order not perfect but moving forward,how many others (men) tried.
For me I am with EN48 on ladies, but have known a few slutty looking types as well, most were real nice when you got to know them, and as diethelm says as long as the parts turn up
PS I was told if you cant say something polite don't say a thing, I think it is the angle of the photo :E










Fly the dream fly 500

[turboshaft]

$20B? And I thought the VH-71's run-away inflation was bad enough :E

Patriarch's funds are closer to $6B.

So are the reports of zero AOGs and 95% fill rates true?

[Heli-Ice]

Does a poster of Lynn Tilton and Nigella baking a chocolate cake together, come with a brand new 500? :E

[Encyclo]

I was there the day this photo was made and observed first hand. Definitely not attire befitting a serious CEO, or even a classy, appealing woman. Too tight, too short, more revealing than most want to know, at least in public. Suggests cheap hooker, not classy, sexy woman, IMHO. This may be her "strategy" but in my opinion it works against her. My reaction overall: "You've got to be kidding!"

I agree 100%. Also saw her walking through the Houston halls and almost :yuk::yuk::yuk:. This is not about being sexist or being against MD (I'm a big fan of the "Hughes 500D" which I've had a lot of fun with when I was younger)... I was just thingking of the folks at MD that look to her as their leader :ugh: and the one that controls the destiny of their fine products.

[Cyclic Hotline]

Maybe she misunderstood the MD operators requests to "show us your parts"? :eek:

Phwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwoaaaaaaaaaaar - thats all I can say - and I saw her there too in real life. :ok:

Still wouldn't have a MD product if you gave it to me for free.

[IntheTin]

Is the aircraft that bad or is it a combination of everything else that goes with it, support, maintenance, parts etc........?

[Regain]

Well, I guess I'm a shallow Hal. You get my vote Lynn. Maybe, if you are are reading this, you'd like to pop out of my fantasies and whisk me away on your corporate charger. Anyway, back to reality..........

[Avnx EO]

Reports in the Fort Worth Star Telegram on Sunday were that Alliance Airport (Just North of Fort Worth) is out as the new location for MD. Something about not liking the idea of being on the same airport as Bell. They had 5 other possible locations mentioned: Dallas Executive Airport, A place in Sherman Tx. Oklahoma City and Shreveport La. (all still pretty close to DFW.) And I think there is still another location in consideration in Az.

It would be great to see MD move into the area,:D With Eurocopter, Sikorsky, Bell, and ASW-100/170 and several completion outfits all in the area, this is becoming the “Mecca” for rotorcraft. Which means you develop a great talent pool in the area that can go from one to the other without moving across the country. It's good for the companies, and good for the talent.

But in the end, I don't understand some of the candidates that are being considered. I know you want to move out of cities that structure their tax laws on the basis of your inventory value (Which is why you don't want to be in Fort Worth or Dallas proper.) But why a helicopter company would locate itself in a backwater.:} I would think being close to a major commercial airline hub would be a must for the business. Easy access to travel for customers/vendors/ employees - plus for good AOG support, shipping out parts, etc. Hope MD makes the right decision.

Anyone got a buzz on where it's settling out?

[500e]

Emailed MD 2 days ago regarding problem, had reply by mail within 1 hour,
requesting phone No so as to discuss we emailed information required and had phone call within 20 minutes.
The quick helpful response gives a customer a feeling that his problem is their problem and together it can be corrected.
Thanks to both AOG, & FT.:ok::ok:

[turboshaft]

So after all the hype, MD is staying in Mesa. Still, at least this means they can meet that delivery target of 250 aircraft... :E

MD Helicopters to stay at Falcon Field (http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/116184)