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AVIATION Erickson to build lightweight airplanes in Jackson County Comment By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness Posted Mar. 2, 2016 at 8:53 AM Updated Mar 2, 2016 at 5:54 PM By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness Posted Mar. 2, 2016 at 8:53 AM Updated Mar 2, 2016 at 5:54 PM » Social News Erickson earned its place in the aviation world operating a fleet of mosquito-shaped Sikorsky S-64 heavy-lift helicopters. By year's end, local residents can expect to see gnat-like, two-seat Seeker airplanes coming off the aviation company's Rogue Valley assembly line. Erickson and Albuquerque, N.M.-based Seeker Aircraft Wednesday announced the lightweight, single-engine, surveillance airplanes will be made in Jackson County. The Seeker, first designed in Australia, is capable of taking off and landing in a short space and presently operates in more than 10 countries, including the U.S., where it is in use by New Mexico State Police. The Seeker SB7L-360A and the Seeker A2 model aircraft, owned by Seeker Aircraft America, a subsidiary of CSI Aviation, obtained FAA certification required for commercial aircraft last year. The manufacturing rights were acquired from Seabird Aviation two years ago. The Seeker has a rear-mounted, pusher-prop engine with a high-lift wing perched above the helicopter-like cockpit, providing 270-degree visibility. The two-person crew sit side by side. Other than a connecting boom to the tailpiece, there's not much more to the plane. "It's designed for law enforcement, border patrol, maritime observation, oil and gas pipeline surveillance and power line surveillance," said Tommy Dunn, Seeker's vice president for business development. "The push prop allows for clean camera views." Helicopters equipped for similar use are both more expensive to build and cost more to operate. Given its work with Sikorsky heavy-lift helicopters and more recent Navy and Marine helicopter overhauls, Erickson fit CSI Aviation's needs. "There isn't a start-up date in place, but we can begin tooling up and planning right away," said Erickson spokesman Bobby Lambrix. "We're looking at production of roughly 30 to 50 aircraft this year." Erickson, which made its mark operating S-64F Aircranes for logging, firefighting and other construction projects, recently contracted with NASA to study the concept of using a helicopter to conduct mid-air retrieval of spacecraft upon atmospheric re-entry. Last year, Erickson subcontracted with Adams Communication & Engineering Technologies to refurbish two MH -53E Sea Dragons, the largest rotorcraft in the U.S. Navy’s inventory. "This is a good opportunity for Erickson to show its manufacturing capabilities," Lambrix said. "Until now, we've worked on legacy aircraft, now we're building new things." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness , on Facebook at www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31 By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness Posted Mar. 2, 2016 at 8:53 AM Updated Mar 2, 2016 at 5:54 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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