desperately needed. Commercial ladders are


woefully inadequate due to


their


deplorable fit next to curved airframes, poor stability, and lack of tool trays and handrails. Likewise, large, welded stands are: very expensive, aircraft specific, difficult to move, and unsuitable for flight line maintenance or field deployments. This need initiated my slow shift from aircraft maintenance to the design and manufacturing of the HeliLadder.


Developing a product (and the resultant business) from little more than a pencil sketch proved to be an exciting challenge. The core mission was simple: provide a ladder that would notably improve access to the upper airframe and rotor system, allowing mechanics to focus on their work – instead of their balance. By doing so, maintenance efficiency and mission availability would be greatly enhanced. The personal safety of the maintainer would also be improved, as falls from conventional ladders are not uncommon.


With the incredible support of my wife Susie, the professional help of design engineer Jack Arnold, and the assistance of a great manufacturing community in Bend, Oregon, the HeliLadder Project was initiated.


Our first product, the MX7, was a 7-foot cantilevered ladder featuring wide rungs, safety handrails, and three tool trays. Although the need for such equipment was self-evident, no one had done it before. Within two years, we added the


MX8, a slightly taller 8-foot rendition. Three years later, the HeliLadder morphed into the MX5+ as the first-ever modular ladder system.


Consisting of a 5-foot base ladder that accepts extensions of various lengths, the height-adjustable MX5 System fits a wide variety of aircraft and can easily be reconfigured to best suit the specific maintenance task at hand and the individual height of each technician. This unique, multi-patented design then grew to accept a fully certified, field-deployable scaffold system. No other product can do the same.


Focusing on quality and durability, HeliLadders are built to aviation standards incorporating AN/MS hardware at critical load points, and all aluminum is anodized or primed and painted for corrosion protection. Utilizing 5052 and 6061-T6 structural aluminum, HeliLadders boast a 1AA (375 lb.) load capacity and far exceed OSHA/ANSI stability requirements. We’re the only manufacturer providing full-length safety handrails extending well above the top rung and including a closed-loop design to eliminate the chance of snagging clothing.


The safety handrails and three tool trays are provided as standard equipment, and a patented brace lock secures the support legs in the open position. Wrap- around polyurethane toe bumpers on the support feet and full-length padding


rotorpro.com 27


protect the airframe. To ease climbing, we feature consistent 10.5” vertical step spacing; every rung is oversized to provide a high level of comfort during extended maintenance events. The neon-yellow handrails and safety-orange ladder body are complemented with high intensity 3M™ reflective tape for maximum visibility on the flight line.


HeliLadder’s exceptional combination of design, functionality, and aviation- grade quality has positioned us as the industry leader — and preferred choice for professional mechanics, modern flight programs, and every branch of the U.S. military. From pilots to patients, everyone has a vested interest in the highest-level performance of their maintenance team. Invest wisely.


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