“Let’s kick the tires and light the fires” - Flying into the future
“
Let’s kick the tires and light the fires”
MD Helicopters LLC plans to produce 19 helicopters this year and increase production up to 50 by 2025, Pedersen said. MDH employs about 350 people, already up substantially from about 250 when he took over the helm. The company estimates about 1,700 of its helicopters are flying throughout the world today.
“The market is still really, really strong for this helicopter, and we think the future is really bright,” Pedersen said. “We’re increasing our focus on the customer, (and) training is an extremely important part of
that...Training helps the customer perform their missions better, more efficiently and more effectively.”
MDH is looking into ways to use VR and other animations to enhance its training, Banks added. It currently uses contractors for such training.
With another eye toward the future, MDH continues a 12-year tradition of offering one or two annual training scholarships to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University students from Prescott, Arizona, plus annual scholarships to the Whirly-Girls Scholarship Fund. The weeklong one-on-one training course in the MD 500 is conducted at Falcon Field. Students learn helicopter systems, emergency procedures and how to fly the aircraft.
“MD Helicopters is an incredible and long-time supporter of the Embry-Riddle Helicopter Program through scholarships, factory visits, training materials and industry feedback,” said Dawn Groh, Embry- Riddle College of Aviation associate dean, in a scholarship announcement. “The connection and continual exchange of ideas with industry is a crucial element for our students’ success, and enables us to be highly responsive in our training and curriculum to industry needs.”
Famously repeated by Harry Connick Jr. in the Independence Day movie, “Let’s kick the tires and light the fires” is the military aviation phrase that signals the aircraft is ready for takeoff. With Pedersen at the helm of MDH, and a renewed focus on pilot and mechanic training, there should be no doubt that current and future pilots with MDH training will be ready to not only take off but also complete each mission safely and successfully. Lest we forget that old aviation adage, “Takeoffs are optional, landings are mandatory!”
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May/June 2023
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