SAN MARCOS, Texas — Berry Aviation has highlighted its long-running participation in a Government-Owned, Contractor-Operated (GOCO) program supporting U.S. Army operations with Airbus UH-72A Lakota light utility helicopters.
Under the GOCO arrangement, the U.S. Army retains ownership of the aircraft while contractor personnel conduct flight operations, maintenance, and logistical support. Berry Aviation provides pilots, maintenance personnel, and support services for the fleet under contract to the Army.
The company has operated UH-72A Lakotas under this framework for more than a decade, including support missions at U.S. Army Garrison Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The helicopters are used for utility transport and other support activities associated with military and test-range operations.
According to Berry Aviation, the aircraft remain in standard U.S. Army markings and military configuration while operating under the contractor-supported model.
The GOCO concept allows military organizations to utilize contractor-operated aircraft while maintaining government ownership of the fleet. Such arrangements are used across several areas of U.S. defense aviation to supplement military aviation resources and provide specialized support services.
Berry Aviation said it intends to continue providing rotary-wing, fixed-wing, and uncrewed aviation services to government customers.
About Berry Aviation : Berry Aviation is a Texas-based aviation services provider headquartered in San Marcos. The company operates a fleet of fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and uncrewed aircraft systems supporting cargo transport, military training, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) activities, and maintenance services for government and commercial customers.
Berry Aviation Marks Decade of Army Lakota GOCO Operations
Berry Aviation has outlined more than ten years of operating U.S. Army-owned UH-72A Lakota helicopters under a Government-Owned, Contractor-Operated (GOCO) support framework.
A Government-Owned, Contractor-Operated (GOCO) arrangement is a model in which the government retains ownership of equipment or facilities while a private company is responsible for day-to-day operations, maintenance, and support. In military aviation, GOCO programs allow armed forces to use contractor personnel and expertise to operate government-owned aircraft for specific missions, helping preserve military resources for other operational requirements while maintaining government oversight of the fleet.
Did you know?
- The U.S. Department of Defense has long relied on private contractors to supplement military operations. Since the 1990s, contractor support has expanded beyond logistics and maintenance to include aviation services, training, intelligence support, and aircraft operations. Government-Owned, Contractor-Operated (GOCO) programs allow the military to retain ownership of aircraft while outsourcing flight operations and maintenance to civilian companies, helping preserve active-duty personnel for combat and expeditionary missions.