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Carson Helicopter will move to Merlin By GREG STILES Mail Tribune JACKSONVILLE - The repair shop will get a lot closer for Carson Helicopter Services Inc. Instead of sending components and helicopters to its East Coast headquarters in Pennsylvania, Carson's heavy-lift Sikorsky S-61s will be worked on at Grants Pass Airport in Merlin. For nearly 10 years, Carson has run its logging operations out of a whitewashed house across the intersection from the old county courthouse on Fifth Street. It's a pleasant place, combining pioneer-town atmosphere with aviation technology. Artwork and photographs celebrate the company's mission and passion for flying. Helicopter parts are stacked about or leaning against the wall. Carson runs a fleet of 11 Sikorskys, each capable of lifting 10,000 pounds. The logging division's 160 pilots, mechanics, support crew and woodsmen directed out of the 1,800-square-foot house are scattered across the country working the woods and fighting forest fires. But the West Coast unit lacked a site for major mechanical work to complement operations in Perkasie, Pa. That will change by the end of next summer. Carson will transfer its West Coast headquarters early next year to a 12,000-square-foot hangar purchased from Messenger Products on land leased from Josephine County for $800 a month. Messenger, a rubber stamp company, has moved to Grants Pass. "We started with one helicopter here in '92 and over the years we've outgrown this building," said Steve Metheny, 31, chief pilot and director of operations. Carson will have about 50 mechanics, skilled laborers, inventory and warehouse employees at the blue-clad tin hangar southwest of the 4,000-foot runway. It is situated between Great Pacific Trading and Aero Welding. The building will get new paint, carpet and wiring for computers and will be brought up to code. "By late summer or early fall, we should be geared up," Metheny said. Right now three Sikorskys and their crews are directed out of Jacksonville, but that number swells to as many eight during fire season. Next year, four Sikorskys will be based in Merlin. That doesn't mean that the S-61s, or many of the employees spend much time around here. Of the 160 people working in the unit, six pilots. two mechanics and the office staff call the Rogue Valley home. Ground crews follow the helicopters and call a variety of places home. "It's like the airline industry," Metheny said. "Northwest Airlines is headquartered in Minneapolis-St. Paul. But not all their people are based in Minneapolis." Metheny hires, fires, schedules and trains. He also visits job sites. The office staff of about 10 will remain intact. During logging operations, crews are self-sustained. Carson's pilots and mechanics work rotating shifts of two weeks on, two weeks off. When a helicopter goes to a new site it's followed by five support vehicles, including fuel tankers. Josephine County Commissioner Jim Brock, who serves as airport liaison, said the move's new aviation-related jobs will have a positive impact on attracting future tenants. Alex Grossi, Josephine County's director of airports, said Carson's arrival is a windfall for the airport on Brookside Boulevard. "It gives us a little more breathing room on our operations budget," Grossi said. "They are going to be rehabilitating the building and land and that's a definite plus." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.