WEBSITE: westcanaircraft.com FACILITIES: 15,000 square feet WHAT THEY DO: Westcan Aircraft offers helicopter parts and sales as well as fixed-wing charter services. EMPLOYEES: 10 FOUNDED: 1990 by Ralph Emsland AEA MEMBER SINCE: 2003 the individual parts. Brad Emsland remembers those early days, working side by side with his father. "I started working here after high school as a general hangar rat," said Emsland, who has logged 400 flight hours as a single-engine helicopter and single-engine fixed-wing pilot. "I started my private fixed-wing training in 1995 while I was finishing high school. This helped me get an understanding of aviation and aircraft systems. We continued parting out fixed-wing aircraft for many years, specializing in the Piper PA-31 series. Eventually, Westcan Aircraft began specializing more on the rotary side of the business where it continues today. Emsland and his father found more demand for parts and more opportunity in supporting high-time rotorcraft operators. ABOVE: Hangar lead technician Rob Estey (foreground) and contract AME James Raglin work on a Bell 212 recently purchased from Japan. At right, a recently acquired AS 350 B3 helicopter awaits a new lease or sale. LEFT: About 80 percent of Westcan Aircraft's inventory is devoted to helicopter parts. Continued on following page avionics news * february 2017 41http://www.westcanaircraft.com