Safran signs support contract with air rescue provider DRF Luftrettung
Safran will support 90 Arriel 2E engines under the terms of the new contract.
Safran Helicopter Engines has signed a support contract with emergency medical services provider DRF Luftrettung. The support-by-the-hour agreement covers engines powering DRF Luftrettung’s H145 helicopter fleet.
Specified in the SBH contract are in-service support and MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) for more than 90 Arriel 2E engines. DRF Luftrettung is one of Europe’s biggest users of Arriel engines.
“This contract demonstrates the relevance of our SBH support model,” said Mathieu Albert, executive vice-president, Support and Services, Safran Helicopter Engines. “DRF Luftrettung is one of the major actors in helicopter EMS in Germany, and it is important for them to have the most efficient engine MRO and support model possible.” SBH is the engine manufacturer’s maintenance-by-the-hour service.
Safran Helicopter Engines Germany in Hamburg, Germany will manage the contract. From Hamburg, the company monitors and supports 300 helicopter operators in Germany, Northern Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, for a total fleet of 2,000 engines.
Roman Morka, chief technology officer, DRF Luftrettung said the organisation has used Safran Helicopter Engines for many years and they have become an indispensable part of its life-saving missions. “It is crucial for us to work with partners who we can rely on in all circumstances,” said Morka. “Therefore we are very happy that in the future we will continue to profit from Safran Helicopter Engines experience and reliable services.”
The SBH contract is designed to offer insight on engine operating costs and smooth financial flows, while making scheduled and unscheduled maintenance operations more flexible. The service covers about half of Safran Helicopter Engines’ engine flight hours.
Meanwhile, DRF Luftrettung, based in Filderstadt, southern Germany, is one of the largest air rescue organisations in Europe. The non-profit organisation operates helicopters and ambulance aircraft from 32 bases at 30 locations in Germany. Its missions include: air rescue flights, transports of intensive care patients between hospitals and international repatriation flights. Last year DRF Luftrettung operated 36,413 missions.
