Following the liftoff, the new HCare service soars with success
Airbus Corporate Helicopters (ACH) has unveiled a new support and services package, HCare, designed to simplify operations and reduce costs for helicopter operators. The offer has gained significant traction among operators due to its customer-centric approach and ability to cater to the unique operating environments of each customer.
SAF Aerogroup is one such operator that has ordered crash-resistant fuel systems (CRFS) kits to retrofit 15 of its Ecureuil helicopters. This move is part of a larger strategy to enhance the safety and efficiency of their fleet, in line with the principles of the HCare offer.
Swiss Helicopter has also agreed to upgrade the avionics systems of its H120s, making them digitally-connected like the avionics systems on new H125 aircraft. Swiss Helicopter was the first of Airbus' civil-operations customers to take advantage of this avionics upgrade offer and the collaborative approach to developing and certifying this avionic upgrade for the H120.
The HCare offer consists of three main packages: HCare Initial, HCare In-Service, and HCare Lifetime, each offering a suite of services tailored to specific needs. The HCare Initial package includes a Part Availability contract, which has been contracted by Luxaviation Uzbekistan for their newly ordered H125 helicopter, and Trento Firefighters for their newly ordered H145 helicopters.
The HCare In-Service package, popular among customers, offers services tailored to individual operators' needs for fleet maintenance, use, and longevity. Ancala Partners, The Helicopter Company (THC) with 20 five-bladed H145s, SAF Aerogroup with five Super Puma helicopters, and several other operators have signed on for this package.
The key features of the HCare offer focus on maximizing fleet availability, minimizing downtime, and providing comprehensive maintenance and operational support. Fleet availability services, such as the HCare In-Service contracts, cover entire helicopter fleets, ensuring operational readiness through scheduled maintenance and quick repair turnaround.
Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities include Dynamic Component Repair (DCR) and state-of-the-art facilities to reduce rotorcraft downtime and extend helicopter life cycles. Parts-by-the-hour (PBH) contracts provide customers with predictable maintenance costs by covering airframe, components, and avionics support under a single package.
Customer care support and technical assistance offer personalized training and service plans tailored to civilian, emergency medical services, and parapublic missions, enhancing both safety and operational efficiency. Advanced avionics and system upgrades integrated into support packages aim to reduce pilot workload and support complex mission profiles, such as those involving autopilot systems and safety-critical operations in emergency response or military contexts.
The HCare Store provides a platform for operators to order one-off services covering various aspects such as Material Management, Helicopter Maintenance, Technical Support, Training & Flight Ops, and Connected Services.
In summary, Airbus HCare in helicopter support packages provides comprehensive lifecycle support, integrating maintenance, logistics, training, and technical assistance services designed to improve helicopter mission readiness and reduce operational costs across civil, emergency, and parapublic sectors. The new offer aims to relieve operators of the costly administrative burdens involved in juggling multiple contracts for multiple services.
- SAF Aerogroup's decision to retrofit 15 of their Ecureuil helicopters with crash-resistant fuel systems (CRFS) kits is part of a broader strategy in the aerospace industry, aimed at enhancing the safety and efficiency of their fleet, in line with the principles of Airbus' HCare offer.
- The unique avionics upgrade offer by Airbus, which Swiss Helicopter was the first to adopt, not only caters to the digitally-connected needs of civil-operations customers but also aligns with the finance sector's emphasis on reducing downtime and providing comprehensive maintenance and operational support, as embodied in the HCare offer.
