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A Helicopter Maintenance Thoroughbred

James Careless | March 22, 2017

Estimated reading time 4 minutes, 33 seconds.

Law enforcement agencies don’t have time for their helicopters to sit in the shop. Thoroughbred Aviation Maintenance of Georgetown, Kentucky, knows this. That is why the independent helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) company does its very best to get law enforcement helicopters back into service as soon as possible.

Thoroughbred provides the same fast-turnaround service to all of its Airbus, Bell, MD and Robinson helicopter customers, whether their aircraft are in the shop for maintenance, repairs, painting, or avionics servicing and upgrades.

Actually, Thoroughbred provides the same fast-turnaround service to all of its Airbus, Bell, MD and Robinson helicopter customers, whether their aircraft are in the shop for maintenance, repairs, painting, or avionics servicing and upgrades.

“Since we became a separate operation from the R.J. Corman Railroad Group, our emphasis on getting customers’ aircraft back into service fast has really boosted our business,” said Brian Halcomb, Thoroughbred’s avionics manager. “We still maintain their aircraft, but now our focus is on the general helicopter aviation market, where we always put our customers’ interests first.”

Thoroughbred Helicopters Inc. was created in the 1980s as a small MRO, until R.J. Corman acquired the company to service the railroad group's fleet of helicopters.

Thoroughbred Helicopters Inc. was created in the 1980s as a small MRO, until R.J. Corman acquired the company to service the railroad group’s fleet of helicopters.

“After they brought in Joseph Otte to manage the business, he began to attract outside customers to our shop,” said Halcomb. “We grew so much that we needed larger facilities, which is when R.J. Corman sold the business to Joe Otte and his partner Todd Case.”

Thoroughbred Helicopters Inc. was created in the 1980s as a small MRO, until R.J. Corman acquired the company to service the railroad group's fleet of helicopters.

Over the years, Thoroughbred’s staff has grown from five to 30, and its presence in Kentucky has increased from one location to four, with facilities in Prestonsburg, Richmond, and Somerset, in addition to company headquarters in Georgetown. Thoroughbred Aviation Maintenance has an extensive parts inventory and same day shipping is provided.

“We are particularly in demand for our ADS-B [automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast] upgrades and component servicing,” said Halcomb. “Everyone is scrambling to meet the new ADS-B standard, and we are here to help.”

Thoroughbred Helicopters Inc. was created in the 1980s as a small MRO, until R.J. Corman acquired the company to service the railroad group's fleet of helicopters.

The best way to assess an MRO’s level of service is to hear what its customers say about it. Thoroughbred posts these comments on its website for everyone to read.

A sample: “Joseph Otte and his staff at Thoroughbred Aviation Maintenance have been nothing short of outstanding,” said Scott Bishop, officer and pilot with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. “He and his staff are flexible, honest, safety conscious, and up front. There is never doubt that Thoroughbred Aviation Maintenance puts the interests and safety of its operators first.”

Thoroughbred Helicopters Inc. was created in the 1980s as a small MRO, until R.J. Corman acquired the company to service the railroad group's fleet of helicopters.

More comments can be seen on the testimonials page, on the Thoroughbred website.

“We are here for our customers, who always come first,” said Halcomb. “Let us prove this to you personally!’

If you would like to see your company featured in Insight, contact Derek Kast at derek@mhmpub.com.

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