Helicopter Maintenance Organisation?

[Cyclic Link]

Well this may seem crazy however a little risk is sometimes needed!!!

I am looking at the viability of starting a new Helicopter Maintenance Organization. Simple as that!!!!! Hmm maybe not!! Anyway, I am a Licenced Engineer who has spent most of his working life in a variety of roles working for large (ish) Helicopter Maintenance Organizations! I have decided that they really don't always satisfy the needs of the customer. I am passionate about Helicopters and SAFETY! I want to make a difference and provide a really good quality service which offers value for money..... Now, to my discussion point!! Obviously there are not a lot of Aircraft out there in comparison to the motor industry for example and I am at the conclusion, you really need a few customers to make it work. :O I have concentrated so far on small and medium Eurocopter aircraft as they I know most about. I am a turbine guy. The question is, are there any opinions on whether the 'private' or 'smallish' AOC's are in a position to try something new??

I would like to offer the following:

Part 145 Maintenance & Part M bits and pieces but focusing on the following:

Safety!
AOG Support!
Option to pay hourly labour or on contract basis based on airframe hours
Fixed price servicing
Customer focused (customer talks to engineers even!)
Open honest billing
Friendly Service


Anyway I could go on, and what I am interested in is opinions? Would people move organizations? Are there potential customers out there! Then I just need to convince a bank!!!!!!!! :-) Maybe this could be classed as a bit of market research!

If anything It is a good discussion point!!

[RotaryWingB2]

A few questions..

Where will you base this business?

Who will you be competing with for business? Can you?

Have you approached anyone for help? (Business link etc)

[PEASACAKE]

Cyclic Stick,

I think that most services you are suggesting are already being provided by others.

But, I know there has been a need over the last 20 years for a maintenance organisation to offer routine out of hours scheduled maintenance, no operator or flying school wants the Helicopter on the ground during the day.

Planned scheduled inspection maintenance hours of 5-11pm have never been advertised or offered as far as I know (and stand to be corrected, but I am only aware that Police ASU's were offered this service by contractual agreement). This is a good 6-7 hour period and with no pesky phone calls etc, you will achieve at least a normal days work, helicopter ready for ground runs 9am next day.

In the winter it would be nice to take a flying school R44 into a maintenance organisation at 4pm and collect it the next morning.

Obviously this would only work with smaller inspections, which the majority are.
-------------------------------------
Safety!
AOG Support!
Option to pay hourly labour or on contract basis based on airframe hours
Fixed price servicing
Customer focused (customer talks to engineers even!)
Open honest billing
Friendly Service
--------------------------------------

ARE ALL OFFERED BY YOUR FUTURE COMPETITION

[valve guide]

What area of the UK were you thinking about. Sounds good to me! Best of luck.

[nodrama]

If you are concentrating on small - medium Eurocopters, then I am assuming you are looking at 350's, 355's, EC120's, EC135's, Dauphins?

You'd be competing against some of the well established 'big boys' and would have to offer something that they can't, with the spares support and tip-top customer service.....definitely a possibility, especially when it comes to customer service.

The idea of 'over-night' servicing is a good one and, I think, worth researching.

I've got to ask also....what general location are you thinking of?

[Cyclic Link]

OK, Thanks for the responses!

Location: Currently thinking Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire general location! Yes my intial thoughts were 120,350,355 etc! and we can all guess the major competitor, however I do think I can offer more in terms of communication, quality, safety, sevice etc. I do agree that the out of hours service is a good idea, however generally associated that with Police, Air Ambulance type operations before, but maybe there is a market for it?

no have not approached anyone yet, this is just an idea! ;)

[Cyclic Link]

I have to say thank you to those who have offered support via PM!! It is much appreciated. I think the next step is how to raise the capital. Anyone used business angels before? I know this is now getting away from Aviation specific however it seems there are some well educated people on this forum!

Cyclic

[Bondu121]

Hi CL

From my experience of running several Part 145 MOs with a highly ethical approach to people & business, I suggest the following:

Get together a client base of potential customers who may consider jumping ship from their present Part 145 before approaching any 'money men'. There's plenty of idealistic engineers out there with the same idea, but no business plan.

Have you identified a location (hangar), and what are the costs involved.

Have you identified and priced up all your tooling and equipment - very expensive to support Eurocopter aircraft! A lot cheaper second hand tooling and equipment is available for Bell & Robinson aircraft.

Why not tag on to an existing AOC holder with a hangar, but you will still need to cost everything for them as above.

Do you have a suitable vehicle and basic tooling for 24/7 support?

Few of the many things to consider.

Good luck!

[SpeedbirdXK8]

From a business point of view anyone can take the scraps from the bigger boys table and from that you build a reputation. For me the key is on cost and on time 24/7.

[rvl]

Hello,

In case you are familiar with the Part-145 regulation, you may tell me where can I find something in connection with the case when the mechanic is the same person who will be the inspector... I mean for an inspection there is only 1 person: he does the maintenance as a supporting staff (B.1. licence) and he issues the CRS as a certifying staff as well (as he has the C licence for the type as well). Is this process regulated somewhere, or is it the Organisation's own procedure?

Thanks!!!

[md 600 driver]

my one bit of buisness advise is

whatever you borrow you have to pay back eventually and it will be proberbly double what you loaned

[topendtorque]

Cyclic Link,

A few ideas in case you haven’t thought of them.

Your investment should look at the long term saleability of it when it is built up, which will come with a site that you can grow as long term and with a reliable friendly staff including eventually proven independent management and admin.

Get a good long term relationship if not contractual relationship with the local govt authority for your own security to not be at risk of rule changing by busy body councillors. I.E Start by selling your business as job security for more locals and thus capital investment into their community. They may offer good terms for a piece of dirt on the airfield say, especially if it is the one you secretly have your eye on.

Initially I would say your wife or someone close needs to be able to do both the bookkeeping and A/C records standing on their ‘ead to allow you max time to ply your trade.

Building a rep to operate at night is good advice but if the UK is anything like here your Achilles’ heel will be reliable linkages with good E & I and rad techs. Without those your rep will languish. There are plenty of other specialists that you will need quick and reliable access to such as x-ray and other non destructive testing dudes. Go for the private operator in those areas too if you can as your work would always be put back in any workshop that supports company ops. Good freight connections are a priority.

Watch your hangar keepers’ liability. That can be very expensive but you must have it, know it backwards and know that it will work for you.

Sounds like you want to pick and choose your customer which is great if you can but initially you are taking all comers, well all payers anyway. So, I pose the question; how will you handle your noble safety standards when your client presents you with a machine for a 100 hourly and when you pull the magnetos apart or some other tell tale item, you find clear evidence that it has done heaps more than is signed off? Or does that not happen in your country?

Certainly the best way to retire in an easy manner is to have people working for you rather than trying to build wealth with just your own hands.

All the best anyway, your type builds country. There will be risk but that is all part of the fun.
tet