Bristow Group has signed a contract with Safran Helicopter Engines to power its new fleet of H135 helicopters with Arrius 2B2 engines. In-service support and MRO for these engines will be provided by an SBH® (support-by-the-hour) contract. At Heli-Expo 2024, Bristow announced the acquisition of five H135 helicopters (plus ten optional units).
The engines will be supported primarily by Safran Helicopter Engines U.S.A. in Grand Prairie, Texas, which supports more than 400 customers in the U.S.A. and a total fleet of 3,200 engines.
”Our decision to select Safran Helicopter Engines’ Arrius 2B2 to power our H135 helicopters is driven by our commitment to operational excellence,” said Stu Stavley, Bristow’s Chief Operating Officer, Offshore Energy Services. “The Arrius 2B2 engine’s support offering aligns perfectly with our mission requirements to meet our customer needs.”
The Arrius 2B2 powers the Airbus H135 helicopter. With a power output of 633 shp at take-off and 580 shp at cruise, it is one of the most powerful variants in the Arrius engine family. With over 4,000 Arrius engines delivered to 430 customers in 60 countries and more than ten-million hours in service, the Arrius family covers a power range from 450 to 750 shp, and is the most popular engine range for single- and twin-engine light helicopters.
SBH® is Safran Helicopter Engines’ maintenance-by-the-hour service. It provides visibility on engine operating costs and smooths financial flows, while making scheduled and unscheduled maintenance operations more flexible. SBH® is integrated into a range of high-value-added digital services such as health monitoring, expert link and online SBH®. Today, 50% of Safran Helicopter Engines’ engine flight hours are covered by the SBH® service.
Bristow Group Inc. is a global provider of innovative and sustainable vertical flight solutions. Bristow primarily provides aviation services to a broad base of offshore energy companies and government entities. The company’s aviation services include personnel transportation, SAR, medevac, fixed-wing transportation, unmanned systems and ad hoc helicopter services.
