Jeff Shapiro President/CEO of DART Helicopter Services unveiled a complete new product line of Medium Float Systems for the Bell 412/212/UH-1 series helicopters certified by their affiliated company Apical Industries Inc. and through their distribution agreement with Era Helicopters LLC. Jeff Shapiro stated that, “DART Helicopter Services LLC now offers the most complete line of Bell Medium certified flotation systems in the industry.”
Apical Industries, Inc. an affiliated company of DART Helicopter Services LLC has received FAA certification for the Bell 412 tri-bag system with and without integrated life rafts. Apical is amending the 412 STC to add the AB 412, AB 412 EP and the Bell 212 models. Certification on those models is expected in early November 2005. The Tri-Bag Float Raft System integrates two 10-man reversible life rafts into the mid-bags. The float/raft system is lighter than the OEM Bell 412 emergency floats without rafts. Additionally, the Apical product saves interior cabin space by locating the rafts within the float system. Ron Gladnick, President of Apical Industries Inc. stated “Our new line of Bell medium flotation equipment is lighter, less expensive and the most innovative float system in the industry. That is why all the major Gulf of Mexico operators have converted to our systems.”
Apical has selected the proven durability of the DART Round-I-Beam Skidtube and the DART Heli-Access-Step as approved equipment with its Tri-Bag Float Systems. Jeff Shapiro, CEO of DART, commented that he is pleased with the collaboration between the two companies, “This type of engineering cooperation leads to new innovative products like the one we just unveiled. DART Helicopter Services’ vision of providing high quality and versatile solutions for the rotorcraft industry is now becoming reality.
DART Helicopter Services LLC also offers 212 and UH-1 cylindrical float systems through their exclusive distribution agreement with Era Helicopters LLC. The 212 system is FAA certified.
DART Helicopter Services LLC is a privately held Sales & Marketing company whose primary focus is creating sales networks for aerospace manufacturers who are looking to benefit from DART’s global marketing and distribution systems. DART’s affiliated companies, DART Aerospace Inc. and Apical Industries Inc own over 200 STC’d products and manufacture over 500 products. With its highly trained and knowledgeable U.S. and international sales team, DART Helicopter Services distributes more than 800 aftermarket products to over 120 countries.
