STEP 1: ACQUIRE AN AIRFRAME

A, A+, or L? If you don’t have an airframe already, Black Hawk Brothers can help you identify your needs and work directly with the largest fleet to arrange for you to purchase or lease an airframe. Determining what your needs are, and how that factors into your options, is one of the biggest decisions for you and and your operation. With years of experience under our belts, we’re happy to help!

STEP 2: CHOOSE YOUR OPTIONS

Avionics, lightning, external load equipment, etc. All these things are important decisions to make when it comes to arranging your build. No worries! BHB can offer immediate quotes on what we call our ‘standard issue’ - a package that find the balance between affordability and utility.

Our ‘standard issue’ includes all comm, audio, navigation, lighting, and external load equipment required for most operators on Firefighting and Utility Contracts. We’ve installed this package on dozens of aircraft that are operating right now. Of course, we can tailor your package to meet the needs of your mission - just ask!

STEP 3: TRANSPORT, CONVERT, AND INSPECT

More often than not, when you receive your Black Hawk, you’ll be getting what we call a ‘Green Bird’. Typically, these helicopters are straight out of surplus, painted CARC Green with hundreds and hundreds of pounds of unnecessary wiring and equipment. Shedding this weight allows for a greater useful load and a much cleaner aircraft. This also means maintenance and modifications are much easier to perform and support in the future. This is the ‘conversion’ (“de-mil”) process, and it’s one of the most critical phases of our work.

In the process of converting your ‘Green Bird’ to a mission-ready machine we also prefer to perform any upcoming and past-due inspections. The helicopter is already opened and being worked on for the conversion, so this is the most practical time to perform any of these required inspections. PMI-1, PMI-2, Flight Controls, etc. (Note: Our team can offer special pricing on completing concurrent inspections.)

Conversions and Inspections for ‘new’ aircraft are completed at our world-class facility in Lakeland, FL. Our facility is equipped with all the resources and tooling to produce a top tier product for you and your mission - including our location that’s in close proximity to our partners in aircraft refinishing and blade repair. For information about our Lakeland Facility, check out our about us page.

STEP 4: REFINISHING

While it’s not all about looks, when it comes to making your mark, it sure is! Our partnered painting facility has refinished dozens of Black Hawks for operators all over the world, and we’ve helped them along every step of the way.

STEP 5: FINAL TOUCHES

Avionics configurations, final equipment installs, and tightening the last of the loose screws. Once we have a shiny coat of paint on the helicopter, we get your aircraft to showroom quality as we prepare for delivery and airworthiness inspections. Over the years we’ve learned it’s best to let the aircraft speak for itself!

STEP 6: AIRWORTHINESS AND TYPE CERTIFICATION

Once your Black Hawk is ready to fly we work with the appropriate agencies and inspectors to first put your aircraft in the Experimental Category. We work with some of the most experienced test pilots with decades of experience on the H-60/S-70 Airframe to asses your aircraft, make any final adjustments, and complete the necessary evaluations to prove to you, the customer, and any applicable inspectors and agencies that aircraft is fit to fly.

After entry into the Experimental Category, we can then assist with getting your aircraft added to your preferred Type Certificate, if desired for your mission. Black Hawk Brothers works directly with a number of Type Certificate holders to get you flying!

STEP 7: DELIVERY

We’ve come all this way, now go flying! Just know, Black Hawk Brothers will be here the whole time to support you and your mission in continuing our unmatched level of service and quality. Whether it’s for your next PMI, or something a little less expected, we’re just a phone call away!

Ready to make the jump? Give us a call or send us an email to get started.