|
Nov
03
2025
|
|
Posted yesterday ago by Admin
|
|
The longevity of the growing international aerospace mission equipment company could be in their philosophy of “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” Just ask their 600+ employees, many with decades at the company.
DART Aerospace, a worldwide company with over 600 employees, has provided helicopter mission equipment, parts, and accessories directly to operators, OEMs, MROs, and strategic partners for over 50 years. Their success has been a result of their vision in the design, manufacture, and installation of mission-critical helicopter equipment, as well as augmenting services through the acquisition of key partner companies. Now, they are looking to the future of the vertical lift industry, with not only innovative helicopter solutions but also drones, and vehicles like electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, a testament to their unwavering commitment to innovation.
Since its founding in June 1975, the company has been dedicated to solving customer challenges, according to Aerial Firefighting Business Unit Manager Michael Lee.
By trade, Michael Lee is an aircraft maintenance engineer. During his tenure at DART, he has taken on an ever-evolving role spanning mechanical design, engineering, program management, and, since May 2023, business unit management at the company’s headquarters in Montreal, Quebec. Lee said that while their initial focus was primarily on simpler STC solutions, the business has since diversified and evolved to offer complex TC and STC solutions to thousands of customers across the globe.
Airworthiness certifications are a constitutional portion of the business. DART works with both OEM and aftermarket customers to offer full-service Type Certifications (TC), Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) and Parts Manufacturing Approval (PMA). Their website states:
“To date, DART has designed and developed approximately 20 systems in collaboration with helicopter OEMs. We are always ready to consider both new OEM project ideas and structure win-win OEM partnerships.” (www.DARTaerospace.com)
Ike Thethi, an aerospace engineer with 12+ years in new product development, has served as an engineering manager for over three years at DART and took on the role of business unit manager in the Parts and Accessories division this year. Thethi reflected on the acronym of the name DART, which stands for Design Approval Representative Team (DART). “In its early days, the company’s focus was on supporting customers with specific one off design approvals.” He said that at that time, they were a team of Designated Airworthiness Representatives (DAR) who would create the project and its paperwork. Then, they would send the project elsewhere for manufacturing. Over the years, he said, “We have evolved every aspect of the business starting from a preliminary idea to development, documentation, manufacturing, testing and certification per regulation authorities.”
Lee said, “We are focused on innovation and listening to the customer with the objective of helping them solve a specific problem..” Customer service is a fundamental area of DART’s business as well. “We provide a product to market, but it doesn’t end there,” Lee explained. They have a team of dedicated customer service employees who listen to market feedback, make improvements, and resolve customer issues. In fact, many of the customer service employees have been engineering designers themselves.
Thethi said, “We have people who are very educated about the products. It’s all about the people that make this company what it is today.”
With the business’s longevity in mind, they spent many years focusing on research and development (R&D). Lee said that in 1989, DART issued its first STC, and over the past 36 years, it has developed 2,000 STCs. They also work directly with OEMs to deliver TC solutions. They work with every helicopter manufacturer and have also added electric vehicle takeoff and landing (eVTOL) capabilities, as well as products for ground support equipment. Thethi describes DART’s diverse product offerings. “We can do everything from landing gear for an eVTOL to fuel cells for a ground vehicle; and a Fire AttackTM System for the latest helicopter designs.
Lines of Business
• Aircraft support and modifications
• Aerial firefighting
• Parts and accessories
• Floats
• Fuel cells
The company has a broad range across the aerospace industry. Thethi said that everything they do comes back to the passion and expertise of their employees. “Our talent pool can add value to each and every aspect of a customer's solution. We have people who have been with DART for over 35 years. We have more than 55 engineers, three DARs in Canada, and a delegate engineer in the U.K.” He said that it is more than technical engineering skill that enables them to excel; their ability to understand what the customer and the marketplace want is crucial.
One new project is a variable capacity Fire AttackTM System capable of carrying over 1,000 gallons of water that automatically adjusts its rigid structure to accommodate the desired water capacity expands as it fills with water, within a composite body.
Aircraft manufacturers they support include:
• Airbus Helicopters
• Bell Helicopters
• Boeing Helicopters
• Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL)
• Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI)
• Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI)
• Leonardo Helicopters
• MD Helicopters
• Sikorsky Helicopters
While the company has grown drastically in its 50-years, Lee said, “We’ve stayed true to our original DNA.” Many employees have been with DART for decades, and that has enabled them to build an experienced pool to draw upon as needed. “We’ve always been focused on the metallic, fabric, and composite portions of manufacturing, which we’ve developed our core skill set around, but our big milestones have been hitting the 2,000 STCs mark, which we continue to grow,” Lee said.
Thethi noted that all the products—from tooling and fabric development to aerial firefighting equipment—reflect an ongoing evolution that has enabled them to tackle even greater challenges. So, how does a company maintain satisfied employees for decades? How is loyalty, innovation, and excitement fostered? Thethi says they consider themselves mission-ready. “Culture eats strategy for breakfast,” he said. He explains it is about the individuals in the company and their integrity and ownership.
Each employee feels a sense of ownership and a drive to be innovative. Even now, Thethi said many new products are in development, and the proof is in what they’ve done lately, not “20 years ago.” To that end, he cited several large-scale engagements, including “a new landing gear, a new cable cutter, a new cargo expansion solution, the new Fire AttackTM System, and a new fuel cell,” all of which are ongoing with the team of skilled engineers and manufacturing technicians.
“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”
Mission
We are a passionate team of professionals who design, certify, manufacture, and service aerospace mission-critical equipment of the highest value for aircraft OEMs and operators. We deliver on operational excellence by offering superior customer experience while partnering with OEMs, operators, and maintenance providers. We provide solutions that enhance safety and help operators stay mission-ready.
Thethi concluded, “Having a group of people who actually like working with each other with a common goal, who are proud and passionate about what they do adds to the inspiration of working at DART Aerospace.”
Inherent to the challenges DART faces, they ultimately must help both OEMs and operators. In the world of aerial firefighters, helicopter paramedics and their flight crews, no two days are the same. DART must be able to rapidly understand its customers’ needs and situations and get them back up and running, often for the safety of life and land. Lee said, “There are no challenges, only opportunities.”
In summary
“Any successful company has to adapt to the market,” Lee said. He believes they’ve ultimately stayed true to their original “DNA” and said they’ve also stayed true to their values.
Happy 50th!
Contact
https://DARTaerospace.com/pages/contact
READ SEP/OCT ISSUE OF ROTOR PRO
READ MORE ROTOR PRO: https://justhelicopters.com/Magazine
WATCH ROTOR PRO YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://buff.ly/3Md0T3y
You can also find us on
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rotorpro1
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/rotorpro1
Twitter - https://twitter.com/justhelicopters
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/rotorpro1