Safran Helicopter Engines has inked a support-by-the-hour contract with DRF Luftrettung for the engines propelling its H145 helicopter fleet. This SBH® contract encompasses in-service support and MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) for over 90 Arriel 2E engines. DRF Luftrettung stands as one of Europe’s largest users of the Arriel engine.
The management of this contract will fall under Safran Helicopter Engines Germany in Hamburg, responsible for overseeing and supporting 300 helicopter operators across Germany, Northern Europe, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia, encompassing a combined fleet of 2,000 engines. SBH, Safran Helicopter Engines’ maintenance-by-the-hour service, offers transparency on engine operating costs, facilitates financial management, and enhances the flexibility of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance operations. SBH is integrated with a suite of high-value digital services such as health monitoring, expert link, and online SBH. Presently, 50% of Safran Helicopter Engines’ engine flight hours are covered by the SBH service.
DRF Luftrettung, headquartered in Filderstadt, Germany, ranks among the largest air rescue organisations in Europe. Its fleet of helicopters and ambulance aircraft operates from 32 bases across 30 locations in Germany, undertaking a range of missions including emergency rescue operations, transfers of intensive care patients between hospitals and repatriation flights for patients from abroad. In 2023 alone, DRF Luftrettung conducted 36,413 missions. The organisation relies on financial backing and boasts approximately 400,000 supporting members.
