The Long Story....

BaseWest was founded in 1991 and began life as an FAA-approved provider of PMA and TSO authorized replacement battery packs for emergency equipment in the aircraft cabin. By 1995 we had developed the first “round-wire” aircraft escape slide lighting system, and won our first two major aircraft programs  – A330 and 737NG. The 757 program followed in 1998.  In 1999 we introduced the first FAA-approved LED-based slide lighting system with the A320 program and began expanding our capabilities to include aircraft electrical cables and a range of specialized test equipment.  Since then, we have continued to lead our corner of the industry with advances in luminaire design that have resulted in lower weight and pack volume, and patented electronics that have significantly increased system reliability.

As LED technology became the choice for escape slide lighting systems, BaseWest developed the first of a series of regulated “smart” batteries to power these systems –  creating further reductions in weight and pack volume. In 2016 we received FAA approval to extend the service life of our “smart” batteries from five (5) to seven (7) years.  Since then we have developed a series of waterproof batteries to support aircraft exterior off-wing escape slide systems.

Along the way we have been fortunate to have been selected as the sole-source supplier for virtually every new aircraft escape slide program awarded since 1996 including Airbus A220 (CSeries), A320, A321neo, A330/340, A330neo, A350, A380, Boeing 737, 747-8, 757, 767, 777, 787 – as well as large regional jets including Embraer E1/E2, C919, MRJ, RRJ and ARJ-21.

BaseWest is a delegated-source supplier to both Collins Aerospace (Goodrich) and Safran (Air Cruisers) for their aircraft escape slide lighting requirements.  We are an FAA-approved production facility (PAH) and support airline operations worldwide with a range of FAA-approved products. Our quality systems is certified to AS-9100D and ISO9001:2015.

We support a closely affiliated company with design and manufacture of a range of military products including helmet-mounted lighting, lighting systems for parachute operations, and identification-friend-or-foe (IFF), and guided munitions threat alert systems for forward operators.

With Covid behind us, we are steadily regaining our status as one of the best small companies in the Universe.