Heroux Devtek to service Chinook landing gear

Longueuil, Que. — Heroux-Devtek Inc. says it has received a licence from Boeing to service landing gear for H-47 Chinook helicopters in nearly a dozen countries. No value or list of countries was provided for the five-year agreement plus options.

The Quebec-based aerospace manufacturer, which says it delivered its first H-47F landing gear to Boeing, will build, assemble, test and deliver landing gear for H-47Fs delivered outside the United States.

The licence enables the world’s third-largest landing gear manufacturer to make replacement parts and repair and overhaul landing gear for of all variants of Chinook aircraft.

Chief executive Gilles Labbe says the new licence further enhances Heroux-Devtek’s global reach and confirms its reputation as a leading provider of aftermarket products and services.

“In addition to generating recurring revenues throughout the life of the program, the license will also allow Heroux-Devtek to maintain an optimal balance between new component manufacturing and aftermarket services,” he stated in a news release.

The H-47F Chinook is a heavy-lift transport helicopter that moves troops, artillery, ammunition, fuel, water, supplies and equipment on the battlefield. Its secondary missions include medical evacuation, disaster relief, search and rescue, fire fighting, parachute drops, heavy construction and civil development.

The family of Chinook aircraft has been in U.S. Army service since 1962. It operates or has been selected by nearly 20 defence forces around the world, including in Canada

Heroux-Devtek says the new licensing agreement is in line with Canada’s Industrial & Regional Benefits policy, which requires contractors such as Boeing to invest in Canada after winning defence contracts from the Canadian government. Boeing has four IRB programs relating to the purchase of four C-17 airlifters, ScanEagle unmanned aircraft systems, 15 Chinook helicopters and the Mercury Global program.

© 2012 The Canadian Press