Aviall Services (Booth No. 1437), a provider of aftermarket parts and services, reports that its Logistics and Inventory Flight Team (LIFT) program launched last fall is proving popular with customers. The goal of the LIFT program, which provides custom inventory and logistics solutions to individual helicopter operators, is to help those operators lower direct operating costs based on their individual needs.

“LIFT has been a large part of our ability to grow rapidly after our acquisition of Rocky Mountain Helicopters,” said Archie Gray, vice president of technical services for Aviall customer Air Methods. “Relying on Aviall’s forward stocking location here in Denver has afforded us the ability to limit some of our inventory costs.” Gray said that the LIFT program allows Air Methods to use Aviall as a “second warehouse” for more than 2,500 part numbers, lowering the operator’s inventory holding and operating costs.

Aviall recently signed a contract with Canadian Helicopters to provide the LIFT  program under an exclusive parts agreement. To provide rapid response, Aviall will stock fast-moving items at sites in Calgary and Montreal. 

Offering approximately 400,000 catalog items from 215 manufacturers, Aviall will work with individual operators in the LIFT program to ensure needed parts are stocked. “LIFT has bolstered our ability to meet customer demands because Aviall has the right parts on their shelves at the right time,” said Lloyd Marks, president of Part 135 operator Rotorcraft Leasing. “Our inventory reductions have been a direct reflection of [Aviall’s] willingness to stock critical items at their Lafayette [La.] facility, less than 10 miles from our main hangar.”

“Customers in the general helicopter market are seeing that we can lower their direct operating costs because of our large market basket, product availability and fair prices,” said Dan Komnenovich, Aviall president and COO.