Buddy Tobin (left) and Jeff Heikke (right) meet with Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price after signing the agreement on their new facility.
Fort Worth is adding another aviation-related firm that is relocating from California.
C&S Propeller, an FAA and EASA certified repair station, is relocating its propeller maintenance, repair and overhaul business to Fort Worth in May. C&S plans to have its new headquarters and facility operational June 1, 2016. It will employ about 12 workers, according to the company.
“C&S has had a long history in California,” said Jeff Heikke, president of Precision Aerospace Products LLC, the parent company of C&S. “We look forward to the aerospace resources the Fort Worth market offers along with a lower cost of living for our employees and greater flexibility in our day to day operations.”
Founded in 1968 and based in Covina, California, C&S Propeller is one of the world’s foremost experts in the maintenance, repair and overhaul of the propeller systems used on the Lockheed C130 Hercules aircraft, according to a news release. Serving both military and civilian C130 operators around the globe, C&S is recognized as a category leader on the 54H60 propeller system, according to their news release.
C&S has signed a long term lease agreement on its new facility in the southern area of Fort Worth. The new facility will occupy 18,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space at 8717 Forum Way in Fort Worth.
“C&S is a world leader in the maintenance and repair of this very important and complex propulsion system on the C130 ‘Herc’ fleet. And our success is due to employing the best and brightest airframe and power plant technicians,” said Buddy Tobin, vice president and general manager of C&S. “We are looking forward to settling in quickly and getting down to business in our new home.”
For the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, the move gives the city another aviation-related firm, one of the area’s key industries.
“Fort Worth’s aviation history dates back to 1911, and we are now home to hundreds of major aviation companies and related vendors who supply everything necessary to get the aircraft off the ground,” said David Berzina, executive vice president of economic development for the city. “C&S Propeller will greatly benefit from close proximity to these companies, as well as from having access to a highly skilled workforce that is partially composed of former military personnel with expertise in engineering and avionics. The company’s presence in this strong aviation community will also support its future growth initiatives.”
Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price echoed Berzina’s statement.
“C&S Propeller is a welcome addition to Fort Worth’s prestigious roster of aviation and aerospace companies,” she said. “Our pro-business environment, strong economy, low cost of living, and highly skilled workforce continues to attract companies from California who want to maximize operational efficiencies and reduce costs, without compromising on the high quality of life desired by their employees.”
Last month, Calcomp Inc., a manufacturer of commercial aircraft engine composites, said it was moving its facility from Santa Fe Springs, California to Fort Worth. The company has selected a 25,000-square-foot manufacturing facility located in north Fort Worth near Loop 820 and Blue Mound Road.
www.cspropeller.com