Milestone Aviation Group agrees new partnership with Safran: ER News

Milestone Aviation Group's Pat Sheedy (R) pictured with Safran's Cédric Goubet.

Helicopter lessor the Milestone Aviation Group has revealed a new agreement with Safran Helicopter Engines to simplify the transition of Safran-powered aircraft between lessees.

As part of the deal, revealed at European Rotors event in Amsterdam, Milestone will continue to promote Safran’s Support-by-the-Hour programme to its lessees. This service protects residual value, controls engine maintenance costs, eliminates cash peaks and offers a wide variety of technical expertise options, according to the leasing specialist.

“For more than a decade, Milestone and Safran Helicopter Engines have worked closely and this agreement further strengthens the partnership between our two companies,” said Pat Sheedy, CEO, Milestone Aviation at the show. “We look forward to building on this relationship, made possible through this first-of-its-kind agreement.”

Cédric Goubet, CEO, Safran Helicopter Engines described his company’s relationship with Milestone as “increasingly solid”. Goubet added: “This agreement will streamline the transfer of helicopters, bring a great deal of added value to Milestone’s activities and support their Safran-powered fleet, as well as reinforce our by-the-hour services in direct support of the end-users.”

Meanwhile in July, Safran signed a big support-by-the-hour contract with Airbus Helicopters for the engines powering the German Bundeswehr’s new fleet of Airbus H145M helicopters.

Part of AerCap, Milestone works with about 50 customers in approximately 35 countries. The lessor serves a variety of industries, including offshore oil and gas, search and rescue (SAR), emergency medical services (EMS), police surveillance, mining, firefighting, and other utility missions.