Deal wins US company a new subsidiary and entry into UAV and surveillance markets
Sikorsky Aircraft will acquire Schweizer Aircraft in a deal that takes it into the light helicopter, unmanned air vehicle and surveillance aircraft markets. Schweizer will retain its name, management, low cost structure and base at Elmira in rural New York state.
"They do not want to destroy what we have," says Paul Schweizer, who will continue as president. "They do not want to turn us into Stratford [the Connecticut headquarters of Sikorsky]". Acquisition of family-owned Schweizer, the terms of which have not been disclosed, is expected to close in the third quarter, after which the company will become a subsidiary of Sikorsky. Randy Simpson, previously S/H-92 programme manager, will become general manager of Schweizer.
Schweizer expects the takeover to widen the market for its Model 300 and 330 light helicopters and spur development of new products. "We have never had small dreams at this company," he says. "We are a funky little company and that has its strengths and weaknesses. There are things we have wanted to do for years."
Schweizer says there is also excitement at Sikorsky about the company's fixed-wing surveillance aircraft business. While Schweizer is building Northrop Grumman's Fire Scout UAV, Sikorsky is the airframe partner on the Northrop Grumman team bidding for the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency's Unmanned Combat Armed Rotorcraft technology-demonstration programme.
Schweizer has been a subcontractor to Sikorsky for 25 years but "the mating dance has been under way for about two years", says Schweizer. Last year, Sikorsky and Shanghai Little Eagle Science & Technology set up a joint venture to manufacture and market Schweizer helicopters in China.
GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flight International
