Helicopter company expanding in Bluffton. How many jobs will it create?
Sterling Helicopter has selected a Bluffton site for its newest operation making and selling helicopter parts, the Beaufort County Economic Development Corp. (BCEDC) said Tuesday.
Sterling Helicopter is a helicopter repair, maintenance, and manufacturing facility based in Croydon, Pennsylvania. It provides overhaul services, avionics installations and engineering for manufacturers like Airbus, Bell, Sikorsky, and Leonardo.
The company is expanding its helicopter servicing capabilities and its new location at Buckwalter Commerce Park, 65 Innovation Drive, is part of the expansion. It’s the company’s fourth location and the first in South Carolina.
Sterling Helicopter and Bluffton’s targeted industry sectors
The BCEDC says the company will lease and modify about 3,000 square feet of commercial space in the Buckwalter Commerce Park to accommodate aerospace engineering, certification, inspection and administrative functions.
In a report on the project in May, the Town of Bluffton said in the capital investment in the project over five years would be $367,000.
“Staff notes that this project aligns strongly with one of the Town’s targeted industry sectors—aerospace and aviation services — which has been consistently identified as a priority for diversification of Bluffton’s economic base,” the report says. “The introduction of a specialized aerospace operation represents a unique opportunity to attract high-skill, high-wage employment and position the Town within an emerging and underrepresented industry sector. “
Sterling will employ 15 people over the next five years. Projected wages for the positions are approximately $35.13 per hour, the report says.
What will be at the SC facility?
The facility will support two primary divisions of the company’s operations. One is Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Parts Manufacturer Approval. This means Sterling will manufacture and sell replacement parts for certain types of aircraft.
The second division is FAA Organization Designation Authorization (FAA-ODA), which the FAA is reviewing. This program grants qualified companies the authority to perform specific certification, inspection and approval functions on behalf of the FAA. It essentially allows aviation organizations to “self-certify” their own engineering designs, manufacturing processes, and maintenance work under strict FAA oversight, according to the FAA.
The proposed FAA-ODA designation would be the first of its kind in South Carolina and elevate Bluffton’s role in the aerospace sector, the town’s report on the project said.
The new location represents Sterling Helicopter’s continued growth as it establishes operations in the Lowcountry, Sterling said in a news release. The project will strengthen Beaufort County’s aerospace sector, the BCEDC said.
The BCEDC gave Sterling a $7,500 grant. The Town of Bluffton gave Sterling $14,500 to cover business license and water and sewer fees.
Individuals interested in employment opportunities with Sterling Helicopter are encouraged to contact Amanda Allen, aallen@sterlinghelicopter.com, for information about available positions.
