Columbia Commission Dedicated Military MRO Facility
Columbia Helicopters, Inc., a member of the American Helicopter Services And Aerial Firefighting Association (AHSAFA), said it has opened a new facility which will be totally focused on the maintenance, repair and overhaul of military helicopters.
Columbia's new Oregon-based dedicated military MRO facility (Photo: Courtesy of Dan Sweet, Columbia Helicopters)
The 16,000 square foot building, located at the company´s headquarters and maintenance complex at Aurora (Oregon) State Airport, will be capable of handling up to three maintenance lines of CH 47 Chinook helicopters simultaneously. The twin-rotor, CH 47 is a popular military workhorse, used by the US Army and military organizations worldwide. Columbia Helicopters is a specialist in CH 47 maintenance.
Two Ch-47's receive attention inside Columbia's new dedicated military MRO facility (Photo: Courtesy of Dan Sweet, Columbia Helicopters)
Operational since August 1, the building, which houses the new military maintenance facility, was built in 1996 to maintain the company´s ground support equipment. According to Paul Leach, Columbia Helicopters Director of Military Maintenance, the planning began last year to repurpose the structure in anticipation of growing contract maintenance business from international CH 47 operators, through the US Foreign Military Sales program. As an example, a complete interior and exterior refurbishment, airframe and engine overhaul for three Royal Moroccan Air Force CH 47-Ds is currently in progress at the facility, under a USD6m contract.
One of three Boeing CH-47D's purchased by Columbia earlier this year
Columbia's new Oregon-based dedicated military MRO facility (Photo: Courtesy of Dan Sweet, Columbia Helicopters)
The 16,000 square foot building, located at the company´s headquarters and maintenance complex at Aurora (Oregon) State Airport, will be capable of handling up to three maintenance lines of CH 47 Chinook helicopters simultaneously. The twin-rotor, CH 47 is a popular military workhorse, used by the US Army and military organizations worldwide. Columbia Helicopters is a specialist in CH 47 maintenance.
Two Ch-47's receive attention inside Columbia's new dedicated military MRO facility (Photo: Courtesy of Dan Sweet, Columbia Helicopters)
Operational since August 1, the building, which houses the new military maintenance facility, was built in 1996 to maintain the company´s ground support equipment. According to Paul Leach, Columbia Helicopters Director of Military Maintenance, the planning began last year to repurpose the structure in anticipation of growing contract maintenance business from international CH 47 operators, through the US Foreign Military Sales program. As an example, a complete interior and exterior refurbishment, airframe and engine overhaul for three Royal Moroccan Air Force CH 47-Ds is currently in progress at the facility, under a USD6m contract.
One of three Boeing CH-47D's purchased by Columbia earlier this year
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