Airbus : Helicopters continues to evolve with customers at heart

Airbus Helicopters' Support & Services business continues to expand and evolve in 2021, responding to customer expectations for solutions that improve availability, enhance safety, optimise costs, and enable them to perform their essential missions.

Today, 2,400 helicopters are enrolled with comprehensive HCare global support contracts (known as Smart & Infinite), representing 20% of the Airbus Helicopters fleet.

'Our HCare global support contracts demonstrate the tailored level of support and service that we strive to provide our customers more than ever in these uncertain times marked by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic,' said Christoph Zammert, Executive Vice President of Customer Support & Services at Airbus Helicopters. 'Whether they are military or civil, small or large, near or far, each customer has its own unique requirements for keeping its fleet flying. Our contracts are customisable which allows us to meet these diverse needs with flexible solutions, covering spare parts, maintenance, repairs, technical support and training.'

Over the past three years alone, Airbus Helicopters has seen a 22% increase in the number of helicopters covered by a global support contract, and 98% of HCare Smart (by-the-hour) customers opt to renew, including most recently the Mexican Air Force which renewed parts-by-the-hour for its fleet of H225Ms.

Recent additions hail from the United States, Thailand, Japan, and Spain, among others. These customers represent a diverse set of mission segments, such as military (representing half of all HCare helicopters), public services and governmental (such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and a growing number from the air medical world. One of the latest customers to join ranks is Air Methods Corporation, which in February 2021 claimed the title of the largest HCare-covered civil fleet worldwide (31 EC145s and 80 EC135s).