An Aviation Classification and Repair Depot (AVCRAD or Aviation Classification Repair Activity Depot) is a National Guard/Army maintenance facility that performs depot‑level and aviation intermediate maintenance (AVIM), component repair, supply support (warehouse/SSA) and workload expansion for regional aircraft fleets; it differs from unit-level shops (AVUM) and standard AVIM by providing limited depot-capability, larger-scale refurbishing, component overhaul, and regional supply/repair management for many states and hundreds of aircraft.
"Rotary‑wing" refers to helicopters and other aircraft that generate lift via rotating blades (main rotors); for the Army this typically includes UH‑60 Black Hawk, CH‑47 Chinook, AH‑64 Apache and similar utility, heavy‑lift, and attack helicopter models maintained by AVCRADs.
Savings come from avoiding full contractor/depot purchases and shipments, reconditioning existing airframes and components instead of buying new ones, recovering reparables into the wholesale supply system, reduced shipping/contract costs and regional supply consolidation; historically AVCRADs have returned tens to hundreds of millions in reparables and parts value and reduced program costs by repairing rather than replacing major components and airframes.
The 1109th performs a mix: it provides limited depot‑level maintenance and extensive component repair/refurbishment, airframe repairs and on‑site AVIM work and supply support; it is not a full Army depot that does complete factory overhauls of every system, but it can conduct major refurbishing, engine/airframe work, stripping/coating and substantial rework that approaches overhaul for many components.
Reported staffing is roughly 175 full‑time employees plus 200+ part‑time traditional Guard members (historical and current counts vary); personnel include uniformed aviation maintainers, civilian technicians and contractors with military aviation maintenance MOS, AVIM/AVUM qualifications, manufacturer/FAA/DoD maintenance training and depot‑level specialty certifications.
Yes. AVCRADs like the 1109th support and back up active‑duty and National Guard unit maintenance and operate alongside Army depots and private contractors; workloads divide by level and specialty—unit shops (AVUM) handle daily/unit maintenance, AVCRAD provides AVIM and limited depot functions and the larger Army depots/contractors handle full overhauls or workloads beyond AVCRAD capability. AVCRADs also run Supply Support Activities to manage parts distribution regionally.