October 20, 2005
As EADS Barfield celebrates its 60th anniversary this month, the company is well positioned to continue its market leadership in the repair/overhaul of aircraft instrument and avionics, as well as the production of test equipment.
Created in 1945 by James W. Barfield, its operations began in Miami, Florida as an aircraft component repair facility. James Barfield was a visionary who set the goal of quality service and satisfaction for his customers, and this tradition continues today with a staff of 225 – some of which are second-generation employees, while others have been with the company for more than 40 years.
During the past six decades, EADS Barfield expanded to become an authorized repair facility for major U.S. and European original equipment manufacturers, as well as a highly competitive supplier of test equipment. In addition to its Miami headquarters, the company has added locations in Louisville, Kentucky and Phoenix, Arizona.
The company is able to test, repair and service more than 25,000 instrument and avionics item numbers for commercial, corporate and general aviation aircraft, as well as helicopters.
Major milestones during Barfield’s 60-year history include the company’s 1998 acquisition by EADS Sogerma, and its joining EADS North America as a business unit in 2004.
"EADS Barfield benefits from remaining a 'human-sized' operation, with a great deal of flexibility, reactivity and a rapid internal decision process – all while being backed by the full resources of EADS, the world’s second largest aerospace company," explained Chief Operating Officer Frederic Denise.
Today, EADS Barfield focuses on four main core businesses: services, including the test, repair and overhaul of aircraft components; total customized support programs for "fixed cost per flight hour" repair solutions; rotables and distribution for the exchange and sale of components to support AOG (aircraft-on-ground) and rush requirements; and the production of ground support test equipment.
EADS Barfield has adapted to the airline industry's changing needs, particularly the demand for global support and service as carriers increasingly contract out the responsibility for their maintenance, repair and overhaul activity.
"Airlines want more customized global support, and they expect fixed cost-per-flight-hour services, which means suppliers such as EADS Barfield must take more responsibility for the spares and support," Denise said. "We have responded to the market's needs, and are providing complete support packages to an increasing number of airline customers."
EADS Barfield also produces highly reliable ground support test equipment that validates the operation of aircraft instrumentation for fuel quantity, turbine temperature and other measurements. As an EADS company, EADS Barfield is bringing its civil test equipment expertise together with the military experience of EADS North America’s newly-formed Defense Test & Services business unit.
"This is another example where we benefit from the synergy of being part of the EADS family, which further strengthens our competitive position as we enter the next half-century of service to the aviation industry," Denise added.
EADS Barfield website: www.barfield.eads.net
