MD HELICOPTERS’ NEW LEADERSHIP PLACES FRESH EMPHASIS ON
ALL-IMPORTANT OEM TRAINING
Article by Joanna Dodder Nellans and Lyn Burks Photos by Teri Thornhill and Bryan Matuskey Video by Bryan Matuskey
“I want to be remembered for only one thing: my contribution to aviation.” – Howard Hughes
There’s no doubt that Mr. Hughes is remembered in our industry for his contributions...or at least I hope he is. I cannot help but wonder how many young aviators of this generation do not realize that the iconic MD 500 family of aircraft was originally developed by the Hughes Tool Company in the 1960s. Since then, there have been several owners of the OEM, thousands of aircraft manufactured, and even more pilots and mechanics trained, thereby keeping this workhorse in the game throughout several sectors of the helicopter industry.
66 May/June 2023
With new leadership at MD Helicopters, this iconic brand is sporting an enhanced emphasis on training as a component of its aftermarket services.
“The primary goal since I came on was to improve our aftermarket, which encompasses spares, overhaul, repair and training,” related Brad Pedersen, MD Helicopters LLC president and CEO since August 2022. “Training has sort of been a secondary function of the business; we want to make it a primary.”
The new job is a return to roots for Pedersen. He brings more than 35 years of aerospace experience in leadership positions at Boeing Rotorcraft, Sikorsky
Aircraft, Breeze-Eastern, and other aerospace and defense companies. And in 1983 he started his career at Hughes Helicopters, which later became MD Helicopters. He carries almost 20 years of engineering and leadership experience with the MD Helicopters product lines. And yes, he’s enjoyed reuniting with MD employees who were there with him decades ago.
Pedersen has his work cut out for him. A consortium of creditors purchased MD Helicopters last year to lead it out of bankruptcy following multiple legal troubles under its previous CEO. The new investment consortium that owns MD Helicopters LLC (MDH) includes MBIA
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