Westport’s First Aviation Services Acquires Aviation Blade Services

First Aviation Services Inc., a Westport-based provider of component maintenance, repair and overhaul services for military, corporate and regional aircraft, has acquired Aviation Blade Services Inc., a provider of helicopter rotor blade repair, overhaul and modification services. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Based in Kissimmee, Florida, Aviation Blade Services is best known for its expertise in the UH-60 Blackhawk rotor blade, as well as the Sikorsky, S-55, S-58, S-61, S-62, S-64, S-70, H-3, H-34, and CH-54 rotor blades, and Westland Sea King rotor blades. Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company told Fairfield County Business Journal that Aviation Blade Services does not carry Sikorsky”™s official designation as an authorized service center.

This is the second investment First Aviation has made in the helicopter market this year, following its April acquisition of DART Aerospace in partnership with Greenbriar Equity Group LP.

“We are pleased to join the First Aviation Services group of companies with their extensive engineering and certification expertise and we are excited about our growth together,” Aviation Blade Services President Leonard Peterson said.

“Len has built a wonderful business with a leadership position in the Sikorsky product line, and the Blackhawk, in particular,” Aaron Hollander, chairman and CEO of First Aviation Services, said. “We look forward to his continued involvement with ABS and the future growth of the company.”