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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services Science of Wine fundraiser planned Highland Games return to Wimer May 2 Klamath Tribes hope to gain USFS lands Since You Asked: New turf is in the budget Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Central Point garage fire believed caused by electrical issues Medford mushroom grow suspect facing federal child porn charges Serial killer's squalor Man arrested for stealing keys, truck, fuel from Lithia car lot Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Gov. Brown touts need for transportation funding in talk to Medford chamber Kent Bush: Clinton 2.0 is neither new nor improved Arthur I. 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Mangino: Faulty hair analysis has far-reaching implications Granlund cartoon: Paging Dr. Oz Our View: Buildings belong with the Jackson County Library District Editorials Other Views: UO president search happened in the dark Our View: Buildings belong with the Jackson County Library District Our View: Public's right to film police should be protected Our View: Raises for Jackson County officials — again Other Views: Delay edible marijuana products for safety Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, April 25 Letters to the Editor, April 24 Letters to the Editor, April 23 Letters to the Editor, April 22 Letters to the Editor, April 21 Columns Michael Gerson: 'The Road to Character' starts with humility Dana Milbank: The right's new claim: same-sex marriage is deadly Kathleen Parker: Mr. Hughes goes to Washington Esther Cepeda: What happens in Latin America should be reported Kathleen Parker: Presidential election 2016: The woman trap Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: This Earth Day, we celebrate the Northwest Forest Plan The Medford School Board was wrong: 'American Pageant' is a political agenda, not history The Medford School Board was right: 'American Pageant' is a fine book, and the board did its homework Guest Opinion: Removing barriers to walking, biking benefits everyone Guest Opinion: Conversion therapy on LGBT youth is child abuse Lifestyle Latest stories Community blog: 'Good' sushi may be more rare than real wasabi Anniversary: Bobbie and Don Mills celebrate 60 years together Anniversary: Wayne and Shirley Tinnin celebrate 50 years together Community blog: Jackson County Votes to Pay Wildlife Services: the War on Wildlife continues ENGAGEMENT: Sellers-James Food Community blog: 'Good' sushi may be more rare than real wasabi Community blog: Oregon Breweries to grow or seriously to grow? 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Restaurant inspections: April 19, 2015 Siam Cafe offers 'mild' to 'very spicy' Thai cuisine Restaurant inspections, April 12, 2015 Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Klamath Tribes hope to gain USFS lands ... Residents say armed mine supporters sully Josephine County's reputation ... Medford mushroom grow suspect facing federal child porn charges ... Klamath Tribes hope to gain USFS lands ... Residents say armed mine supporters sully Josephine County's reputation ... Medford mushroom grow suspect facing federal child porn charges ... AVIATION Erickson finds room to work at Medford airport By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 23, 2015 @ 6:20 pm Updated Apr 24, 2015 at 12:31 PM Video on Erickson's new operations at Medford airport. By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 23, 2015 @ 6:20 pm Updated Apr 24, 2015 at 12:31 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> At any given moment, an Erickson aircrane or one of its smaller helicopters can be found on job sites around the globe. Most all of them find their way home to the Rogue Valley for upkeep or overhaul. On Wednesday afternoon, three of Erickson's fleet of 20 aircranes were at the Medford airport for maintenance, testing and training. Erickson deploys six aircraft in Australia during fire season, three are en route to Greece for similar duty, and three more were shipped back to Long Beach, Calif. One of those, dubbed Olga, has been hovering over Southern Oregon on training missions this week. It may seem like a small thing for an aviation company to have its major manufacturing and maintenance operations at an airport. But it means a world of difference if you're a global operator such as Erickson, and it makes it infinitely easier for Andy Mills and Kerry Jarandson, the local vice presidents who oversee commercial aviation and maintenance, repair and overhaul operations. "The key for our helicopters is to be operational ready," said Mills. "A helicopter has 100,000 pieces moving around, and there is always something wanting to break, but we always want to be ready as possible." In 2014, Erickson's helicopters were good to go 96 percent of the time. While Erickson's field performance is rarely questioned, the company has struggled on the financial side. Shares, which traded as high as $28.10 two years ago, slipped below $4 last month. Former CEO Udo Rieder moved corporate headquarters from Central Point to Portland in 2009 and took the company public three years ago. He followed with the acquisitions of Evergreen Helicopters and Air Amazonia to broaden Erickson's scope, but they also saddled the company with debt. In February, Erickson laid off 150 workers, mostly in the Rogue Valley locations, leaving about 920 employees globally. At the same time the company restructured itself into four units: Commercial; Oil and Gas; Government Services; and Manufacturing, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul. Last month, Rieder stepped down and was succeeded by Jeff Roberts. Erickson acquired the former Medford Air offices and hangar in late 2013 and shifted much of its manufacturing and overhaul operations from its Willow Springs Road plant established in the 1970s. Mixed in a 50,000-square-foot hangar is a Bell 214ST trainer, symbolic of the company's growth potential. "This has opened up some opportunities for us to pursue additional work we would've had a hard time pursuing in the past," Jarandson said. "We finally have enough room. Being right on an airport gives us easier access for our helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, as well. We had been jammed into a hangar before at Willow Springs. It's hard to take an aircraft and transport it off an airport, do maintenance on it and then take it back to the airport." The commercial aircrane division, encompassing the company's legacy logging, firefighting and construction business, keeps Erickson's corner of the airport abuzz with the whirring of rotors, hiss of air compressors and clanging of metal. Much of the work is limited to a single shift these days. Erickson's fleet includes overhauled military CH-54 aircraft that are refashioned into aircranes. Parts and components of the next S-64 Aircrane, due for completion in 2016, are scattered about the 50,000-square-foot assembly hangar. Erickson builds aircraft wiring harnesses from the ground up in the adjacent electric shop for sale around the world or installation next door. "This facility has enhanced our capabilities and should result in additional work for us in the future," Jarandson said. Everywhere Erickson deploys an aircrane in North America, it ships a 14-person crew and maintenance pod replete with nightlights, generators, pressure washers and a million dollars' worth of spare parts. "It's basically a self-contained shop for the aircraft mechanics to service the aircraft every night," Mills said. "It's also accompanied by a 10,000-gallon fuel tanker and a lift, or boom, truck. When the aircraft goes out on a fire contract or to do lift work in a remote location, it might be out for months, maybe even a year. Our intent is that we service and maintain the aircraft — right up to and including major components — in the field." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness , on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31 , and read his blog at www.mailtribune.com/EconomicEdge . By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 23, 2015 @ 6:20 pm Updated Apr 24, 2015 at 12:31 PM » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs 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. 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