A Burleson aviation support services company is flying high after winning about $166 million in defense contracts.
Air Center Helicopters Inc., a small business based in downtown Burleson, won two contracts — each worth about $83 million — on June 2 and June 3. The U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, awarded the fixed-price contracts for “vertical replenishment services.”
“Since its establishment more than three decades ago, Air Center Helicopters has been providing airlift services in support (of) U.S. and foreign governments as well as institutional and commercial customers,” a company release said.
Air Center Helicopters’ “‘can-do’ attitude and culture is what truly sets our organization apart as unmatched within the aviation support services industry,” the statement said.
The company’s fleet includes the Airbus H225LP long-range passenger transport helicopter, used for transport cargo, rescue operations and other capabilities. The Burleson business also does private charter flights.
In March, Air Center Helicopters helped in the development and flight testing of a filter by Aerometals for the H225 helicopter.
“By providing an aircraft for testing, with CEO Rod Tinney serving as the flight test pilot, our team helped advance a system designed to better protect engines operating in challenging environments such as dust-heavy regions across the Southwest and abroad,” the company said in a Facebook post. “Partnerships like these help drive innovation, improve reliability, and keep aircraft mission-ready around the world.”
Under the new defense contract, detachments from Air Center will be deployed worldwide for extensive periods at sea, according to the documents. The detachments will be assigned to cargo and ammunition ships that resupply the U.S. 7th and 5th fleets using helicopters.
Each contract is for one year with four one-year options. There is another option to extend service for up to six months after the one-year options are completed.
Both contracts will start in July and conclude in January 2032 if all options are exercised.
The contracts are funded incrementally using Navy-appropriated funds that do not expire.
Eric E. Garcia is senior business reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at eric.garcia@fortworthreport.org.
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