Simulator taking off

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

By DONNA FORK

For the Times dmfork@knology.net

WestWind growing with facility to build 'copter training units

WestWind's plan to build helicopter simulators is off to a flying start. On July 31, a ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the firm's leasing of a 61,000-square-foot facility to build Chinook helicopter flight simulators for the Army.

The simulators, which will be delivered all over the world, will help train pilots to fly in a variety of environments.

"This is a new venture for WestWind," said the company's president, (Ret.) Lt. Gen. Dan Petrosky during the ribbon cutting.

It may be new for WestWind Technologies Inc., but this type of work will be familiar to Petrosky, who joined the board of directors of the six-year-old company in July 2006. He is a former commanding general of the U.S. Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker, where he was responsible for all Army aviation operations.

Even before the ribbon on the new facility was cut, work had begun on the first simulator. Some of the components had arrived at the new facility, at 2845 Wall Triana Highway in Huntsville.

When completed, each simulator will be the size of a small building - 28 by 28 feet and 19 feet high, said Lori Marks, program manager for the project. WestWind is to complete two of the simulators by January and a third one by June 2008, she said. Several of the simulators have been built elsewhere; the Huntsville simulators will be numbers five, six and seven. Nine more are scheduled to be built.

"When it's done, it will be a replica of the cockpit of a CH-47 helicopter, F model," she said.

The contract award for the first three simulators is in excess of $20 million, Marks said.

The company said 30 new jobs were created in Madison County as a result of leasing the new facility. Another 30 job openings are anticipated as the facility goes into full production.The 30 additional jobs will be "mostly production - structural fabricators, structural installers," Marks said.

WestWind, which focuses on manufacturing, aircraft maintenance and systems integration, employs about 400 people. The bulk of the firm's work is for the Army, although work is also done for the Navy and Marines. The focus is on helicopters, but WestWind has the capability to work on fixed-wing aircraft, Petrosky said.

WestWind continues to grow. Last year, the company added 99 jobs, bringing the total work force up to 349.

In addition to hiring more people, WestWind keeps renting more space.

Before acquiring the space for the helicopter simulator from Industrial Properties of the South, WestWind Technologies Inc. had more than 227,00 square feet of manufacturing and support facilities in the JetPlex Industrial Park and on Redstone Arsenal.

Earlier this year, the company leased 80,000 square feet of space in the Jetplex at Huntsville International Airport.



Simulator taking off Tuesday, August 07, 2007 By DONNA FORK For the Times dmfork@knology.net WestWind growing with facility to build 'copter training units WestWind's plan to build helicopter simulators is off to a flying start. On July 31, a ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the firm's leasing of a 61,000-square-foot facility to build Chinook helicopter flight simulators for the Army. The simulators, which will be delivered all over the world, will help train pilots to fly in a variety of environments. "This is a new venture for WestWind," said the company's president, (Ret.) Lt. Gen. Dan Petrosky during the ribbon cutting. It may be new for WestWind Technologies Inc., but this type of work will be familiar to Petrosky, who joined the board of directors of the six-year-old company in July 2006. He is a former commanding general of the U.S. Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker, where he was responsible for all Army aviation operations. Even before the ribbon on the new facility was cut, work had begun on the first simulator. Some of the components had arrived at the new facility, at 2845 Wall Triana Highway in Huntsville. When completed, each simulator will be the size of a small building - 28 by 28 feet and 19 feet high, said Lori Marks, program manager for the project. WestWind is to complete two of the simulators by January and a third one by June 2008, she said. Several of the simulators have been built elsewhere; the Huntsville simulators will be numbers five, six and seven. Nine more are scheduled to be built. "When it's done, it will be a replica of the cockpit of a CH-47 helicopter, F model," she said. The contract award for the first three simulators is in excess of $20 million, Marks said. The company said 30 new jobs were created in Madison County as a result of leasing the new facility. Another 30 job openings are anticipated as the facility goes into full production.The 30 additional jobs will be "mostly production - structural fabricators, structural installers," Marks said. WestWind, which focuses on manufacturing, aircraft maintenance and systems integration, employs about 400 people. The bulk of the firm's work is for the Army, although work is also done for the Navy and Marines. The focus is on helicopters, but WestWind has the capability to work on fixed-wing aircraft, Petrosky said. WestWind continues to grow. Last year, the company added 99 jobs, bringing the total work force up to 349. In addition to hiring more people, WestWind keeps renting more space. Before acquiring the space for the helicopter simulator from Industrial Properties of the South, WestWind Technologies Inc. had more than 227,00 square feet of manufacturing and support facilities in the JetPlex Industrial Park and on Redstone Arsenal. Earlier this year, the company leased 80,000 square feet of space in the Jetplex at Huntsville International Airport. © 2007 The Huntsville Times © 2007 al.com All Rights Reserved.