Helicopter Company That Stiffed Century Sells Assets To The Chinese

August 9, 2012

[EXCLUSIVE] The helicopter company that disappeared and stiffed the Town of Century for about three quarters of a million dollars has resurfaced — with its owner cashing in and selling the company to the Chinese.

Century received a $740,999.43 foreclosure judgement against  Helicopter Technologies, Inc. in July 2009 after owner Georges Van Nevel apparently left the country.

Recently, Van Nevel’s Helicopter Technologies transferred all industrial properties and patents on the FH1100 helicopter to China in an agreement with the China Helicopter Industry Development Association and US-China Capital, Inc., according to the Chinese website People’s Daily Online.  The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

China expects to produce their first FH1100 within two years, increasing production up to about 300 copters annually.

Van Nevel operated his helicopter company from a building leased from Century in the town’s industrial park off West Highway 4.  In September 2007, his regular monthly $3,257.61 payments to the town stopped, forcing the eventual foreclosure proceedings against the company.

Van Nevel then tried unsuccessfully to sell the building for $1.75 million while attempting to negotiate a payment plan with the town.

The building remains empty in the Century Industrial Park.

Troubled Past

The U.S. Office of Transportation raided Van Nevel Helicopters in January 2008, with federal officials seizing records of the business and Van Nevel.

“Van Nevel is suspected of improperly refurbishing helicopters and helicopter parts, selling unapproved aircraft parts, performing improper repairs on helicopters and misleading the aviation community by false advertisements,” according to federal documents from the Office of Transportation at the time of the raid.

In 2008, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida entered a $424,550.72 judgment in favor of El Colona Agropecurario of Costa Rica against Helicopter Technologies for failing to deliver a helicopter to the company.

Numerous lawsuits against Van Nevel and Helicopter Technologies were also filed in Escambia County Circuit Court.

Pictured top: This photo  shows Georges Van Nevel (to the right of the American flag) transferring the assets and patents of his company to the Chinese. Picture inset: Van Nevel addresses the Century Town Council as Mayor Freddie McCall listens. Pictured below: Inside Helicopter Technologies in the Century Industrial Park. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

6 Responses to “Helicopter Company That Stiffed Century Sells Assets To The Chinese”

  1. David Huie Green on August 10th, 2012 3:41 pm

    CONSIDERING:
    “isn’t he also pretty close to Treason for “… transferr(ing) all industrial properties and patents on the FH1100 helicopter to China…”?”

    Close doesn’t count since it isn’t horseshoes, hand grenades or H-bombs. Further, all patents are a matter of public record and anyone earth can read them at any time, so it isn’t like he sold them anything secret.

    As to the properties, it looks like his debtors would have first dibs on either his property or the money he is paid for it. I’m sure our government was very careful about that matter as they are always careful.

    The real fear is that poor China is getting a bad deal and gets mad at us and stops loaning us money to support our government’s lifestyle.

    David hoping Century gets what is owed

  2. Ed Court on August 10th, 2012 1:39 pm

    George Van Nevel cheated me of helicopter parts, tools and equipment. Not slander, just facts, proven. The type certificate should not be allowed outside of the U.S. by the FAA. WHY did they allow this to occur with the documented facts of wrongdoing?

  3. S.L.B on August 9th, 2012 3:32 pm

    This is 100% wrong and very unsettling!

  4. Abe on August 9th, 2012 8:07 am

    He looks happy. Now the working class in Century will pick up the tab while the rich man walks. I wonder how people like this sleep at night.

    I also wonder why the bankruptcy can’t be voided seeing as how he had assets worth more than he was allowed to keep? Oh yeah, he has lawyers to make that go away.

    “Job creator” = it’s gonna be a job cleaning his mess up and paying his tab through our taxes.

  5. deBugger on August 9th, 2012 5:50 am

    How is this guy not awaiting trial for Fraud, Hiding Assets & any number of other charges?

    I realize this isn’t a military chopper, but isn’t he also pretty close to Treason for “… transferr(ing) all industrial properties and patents on the FH1100 helicopter to China…”? How did this sale clear Federal Oversight without some guarantees to those that have had judgement(s) levied against the company?

    Something stinks.

  6. jane on August 9th, 2012 5:21 am

    So this scam artist just moves from one country to another making unsafe helicopters and no one arrests him? Doesn’t anyone check out businesses before they do business with them? And now he sold this business to the Chinese, making more money? Is he a US citizen? Why hasn’t he been arrested?

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News