Who or What is Aerotecnica?

[skypilots76]

Does anyone have any information on "Aerotecnica SA (ATSA)", a Venezuelan commercial helicopter operator in the charter, law enforcement & offshore sectors.

[pplh]

I believe they started out as a helicopter manufacturer in the 1950's but now they are an operator who do some EMS, charter work etc? Not 100% but its a start...

[Newforest2]

Same as the defunct airline?

Airlines - Venezuela (http://www.airlinehistory.co.uk/Americas/venezuela/Airlines.asp)

[alouette]

One of the major helicopter operators in that region.:ok:

[ppheli]

The well respected "JP Airline Fleets" (bought out by Flight International / Reed last year) lists the company in their 2008/09 edition with their fleet as

B206 x27 (yes 27)
B206L x1
B412 x1
Beech 90 x1

[flysmart2]

Aerotecnica is the largest helicopter operator in Venezuela, over 50 years in the business, run by a family of aviators, 3rd. generation is being groomed to take the helm. Bell service center and regional Bell dealers. Great maintenance, great people to work for.
In a nut shell, you are nobody in the rotary wing arena in Venezuela if you are not, or have been an Aerotecnica pilot or mechanic....
more info ? I suggest you IM chopperlover :ok:

Flysmart2

[unstable load]

B206 now less and up to 2 of B412 now.

[Outwest]

Flysmart2 wouldn't be K.D. himself would it? :D

[unstable load]

Outwest,

If the KD you refer to is the guy I think it is then he is no longer directly involved with the day to day, and is indeed actually CD.

[Outwest]

Outwest,

If the KD you refer to is the guy I think it is then he is no longer directly involved with the day to day, and is indeed actually CD.

So Flysmart2 is CD? That makes sense as I assumed by the eloquent post that it had to be one of the "D's" :D

[unstable load]

No, I never said he was CD, merely inserted my opinion and the correct initials IF he was the same gent.
You are right about the eloquence, though. All of the D's are easily capable of that level.

[flysmart2]

No...., sorry is not KD, AD, CD, DVD, PS2, PSP . I was just trying to give my two cents to the ATSA thread. As a former (twice) ATSA team member, yes there were some issues, that I did not agree with, but I still prefer a aviation family run company, you can talk to them fight and then have a beer. In a public traded one you don't know who is in charge, never seen the guy and if things get tough you get layoff ha ha, mostly run by non aviation CEO's CFO's that in order to meet quarterly profits and their greed, will kill the "goose that lays golden eggs" because one egg a day is not enough....

The aviation entrepreneur does not exist anymore (a hand full ), guys like Allan Bristow, Bob Suggs, D. Smith, Antonio Dugarte, and others. Men that will follow their instinct, passion for aviation, sell the house, sell the farm and make bold business decisions just by plain and simple gut feelings, ignored their accountants advice and built successful enterprises for the years to come, put bread in many families tables. Today when public traded companies have profits, they just cash in the profits and bonuses. The old timers will invest in new aircraft , maintenance, and when crisis comes they are ahead of the game, they knew this is a roller coaster ride.

Thank you for reading ....Just my two cents.

Flysmart2

comments welcomed :ok:

[unstable load]

There can be arguments for the big corporations, too.
In a downturn like now a big company has a bteer chance of weathering a storm than a small concern, no matter how family orientated it is. Remember too, that as an employee your family status only extends as far as pep-talks and ra-ra because when the debris flying from the fan turns brown the blood family always gets looked after first.

Just my tuppence worth as an ex-ATSA family member albeit as a stepchild.

[flysmart2]

UL;

I agree with you, thats why some time ago I read " who moved my cheese" and made the move before I ran out of cheese...

Flysmart2 :ok:

[unstable load]

I hear ya! I kinda had the cracker nibbled out from under the cheese so to speak and the contract ended while there was still some food in the stores in MUN and before we had to start growing our own in the garden of the hotel.

[Chopperlover]

Hey guys,

I thought I'd jump in and say that Aerotecnica has had hugemongous changes (for good) in the last few years. The directors of the company splitted up back in 2006 and ever since the policies of the company have been improving towards meeting every single quality standard requested by the OGP's. Technicians are being well paid, trained and motivated by the quick response (specially moneywise) that the company was lacking back then. Now some of the directors of the company are not only Dugartes and they have been given the freedom to make choices that allow it all to flow a lot easier and faster. Now you don't have to call a Dugarte to ask for permission or for money. Just everyone doing their job covering his/hers responsibilities. Amazed? Well that's what ATSA is now.

I'm proud to say that ATSA is by far the best offshore/onshore operator in Vzla. Counts with a great staff of tech, logistics and operations personnel. All well trained (important matter), EXPERIENCED *very* and proud of their job in the company.

Obviously it ain't all perfect! Nothing is! But I sure gotta say that Aerotecnica has been working really hard and has invested tons of $$$ (in the last few years) to reach as close to perfection as there is.

Although there aren't only Dugartes running the company now... You can still have a scoth with them anytime you want! And BTW... Antonio E. Dugarte (Antonio Dugarte's grandson) seems to have inherited the

"...instinct, passion for aviation, sell the house, sell the farm and make bold business decisions just by plain and simple gut feelings, ignored their accountants advice and built successful enterprises for the years to come, put bread in many families tables."

And like we say it here in Vzla... Lo digo con los pelos de la burra en la mano! (I say it with the mule's hair in my hand!)

Take care guys.

Chopperlover :ok:

[Chopperlover]

Forgot to mention,

Atsa now has:

1 BH412HP
1 BH412EP
1 BH407
1 BH206L3
10 BH206B3
1 Beech 90E
1 PA34

Chopperlover :ok:

[flysmart2]

Well said. Plain and simple " Aviator Spirit " .

:ok:

Flysmart2

Hey. chopperlover forgot the 230 ;)

[Chopperlover]

Ha ha ha! lmao! Darn right bro! How could I forget that... I went and picked it up myself and flew it down to Fort Lauderdale!!!

:ok:

[Chopperlover]

Just out of curiosity since you never replied in your own thread... Was your question answered?

:ok:

[unstable load]

Chopperlover,

Como vai con la Empanada? Saludos para Pablo y Caribe!

[Chopperlover]

Ja ja ja! Ya no es la empanada! Eso es del pasado! Con mucho gusto les doy los saludos... De parte de quien?

:ok:

[flysmart2]

This Pprune is like FACEBOOK man ...... :ugh: NO SECRETS !!!!!

Fly safe !

flysmart2

[unstable load]

Ja ja ja! Ya no es la empanada! Eso es del pasado! Con mucho gusto les doy los saludos... De parte de quien?

Uno da los gringos que estava en Maturin con el S61.