The Robinson Helicopter Company is an American manufacturer of civil helicopters based in Torrance, California. Founded in 1973 by Frank Robinson and his son Kurt Robinson, Robinson Helicopters has sold more than 12,000 aircraft world-wide as of 2016.
In February 1973 the Robinson brothers flew the first Prototype YROI (Y Robinson Robinson intermediate I), and on October 30 of the same year, the Robinson R22 Beta was certified by the FAA.
In 1974 Robinson Helicopters acquired a large 60 acre site in Torrance California where they built a new manufacturing plant over an 18 month period. The Robinson Heliport (FAA LID: JTA) is located at the same site to support the Robinsons fleet. Robinsons Company has 4 buildings 90,000-222,000 square feet in size where they house their engineering department, production line, final assembly area and corporate offices. Robinson also operates a Heliport (ICAO: KJTA) on its premises. Robinson has received an exemption from the registration requirement of 14 CFR part 47.23(a); Robinson Company is a Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 21 certified repair station and is authorized to conduct major airframe and power plant repairs.
In 2013 Robinson purchased the assets of Keystone Helicopter Corporation with 60 employees and relaunched the Robinson R66 Turbine. Robinson conducts its own training with over 100 Robinsons that are equipped with Garmin G1000 glass cockpits. Robinson is the only helicopter manufacturer to control its own FAA type certification process and their manufacturing facilities meet AS/EN/IEC standards for producing aircraft built under Technical Standard Order (TSO) C137s, Airworthiness Certificates issued under Section 27. Robinson is the only light utility helicopter manufacturer that is fully self-supporting in US production with a large factory and engineering department. Robinson has sold more than 12,000 helicopters world-wide as of 2016.
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