Rogerson Unit Licensed to Deal With Hungary

A subsidiary of Irvine-based Rogerson Aircraft Corp. has received a license from the U.S. Department of Commerce to export to Hungary its technology for building crop-dusting helicopters.

The license gives the subsidiary, Rogerson Hiller Corp. of Port Angeles, Wash., the ability to bid on a contract from the Hungarian government for helicopters that can be used for pesticide spraying, seeding and fertilizing, according to Peter Flynn, Rogerson’s director of international marketing.

Flynn said an essential requirement for licensing was the assurance that the Rogerson helicopters would not be used or converted for military purposes. He said that the piston-engine Rogerson Hiller helicopters are much lighter and have less lift capability and shorter range than military helicopters.

Rogerson’s long-term plan, Flynn added, is to obtain technology transfer licenses to sell its agriculture helicopters throughout Eastern Europe in order to tap what it estimates to be a $150-million to $200-million market over the next decade.