U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command selects Erickson to provide rotary-wing vertical replenishment

PORTLAND, Ore., 7 June 2016.Erickson Inc. (NASDAQ:EAC), a global provider of aviation services, won two, five-year agreements (one firm-fixed year and four follow-on annual option years) to provide vertical replenishment and other rotary-wing logistic services to Military Sealift Command in support of United States Navy 5th and 7th helicopter fleets.

Erickson has performed Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP) operations for the U.S. Navy since 2004. The two contracts are valued at approximately $70 million. Erickson will provide ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore logistics support with personnel, aircraft, and spares.

“We are pleased to have been selected to provide these essential services to the Navy’s Military Sealift Command. These new awards further cement our position as a preferred provider of services in support of the U.S. Department of Defense operations around the world,” says Jeff Roberts, president and CEO of Erickson Incorporated.

Operations will be based out of Naval Base Guam, with multiple aircraft supporting United States Pacific Fleet and Central Command.

Military Sealift Command’s VERTREP program creates efficiency by enabling ships to remain at sea for extended periods, improves safety, and elevates mission readiness levels, Navy officials say.

Earlier this year, Erickson Inc. officials announced expanded support for legacy aircraft, as well as related contract wins.

Adams Communication & Engineering Technologies (ACET) officials subcontracted Erickson to completely refurbish two Sikorsky MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters in support of the U.S. Navy Heavy Lift Helicopter Program. The contract is for the return to service of two MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters, the largest helicopters in the U.S. Navy. Doing so requires multiple stages of a complex refurbishment schedule, officials say. It is the first contract awarded by the U.S. Navy for a depot-level maintenance event of a MH-53E helicopter to a commercial contractor.

Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, also contracted Erickson to fabricate and assemble five out-of-production spare aircraft tail pylons. The major assembly of these specialized tail pylons directly supports the U.S. Marine Corps, where the CH-53E performs critical defense missions supporting freedom and preserving lives.

Erickson is a global provider of aviation services and operates, maintains, and manufactures utility aircraft to safely transport and place people and cargo around the world. The company is self-reliant, multifaceted and operates in remote locations under challenging conditions specializing in Government Services, Manufacturing and MRO, and Commercial Services (comprised of firefighting, HVAC, power line, construction, timber harvesting, oil and gas and specialty lift). With roots dating back to 1960, Erickson operates a fleet of approximately 80 aircraft, is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, USA, and operates in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, and Australia.