Airbus scores first ACH160 order in Southeast Asia

Order includes region’s first HCare First premium support package.

Manila, Airbus Helicopters has secured an ACH160 order from an undisclosed new customer in the Philippines, launching this new model in the Southeast Asia and Pacific region. It will be used for private and business flights within the Philippines archipelago.

This aircraft will feature the ACH160 Exclusive version highlighting two wide hinged doors and electrical footsteps combined with a bespoke cabin, welcoming up to eight passengers in an elegant and refined handcrafted interior for a truly business-jet like experience.

Equipped with Blue Edge blades and a new canted Fenestron rotor, the ACH160 sets a new benchmark in corporate transportation with a blend of innovative technology, speed, comfort and style.

As part of the contract, the ACH160 will be backed by HCare First – the first such premium support agreement in the region, catering to the specific needs of operators requiring worry-free aircraft availability.

“Launching the ACH160 in Southeast Asia with a new Philippine customer underlines the global attractiveness of our corporate helicopters offering to meet the evolving travelling needs of our customers,” said Frederic Lemos, Head of Airbus Corporate Helicopters (ACH). “We are equally excited to see our ACH products gaining good success in the growing Philippine private travel market.”

The H160 is Airbus Helicopters’ innovative medium twin-engine helicopter designed to create added value for customers in terms of performance, economic competitiveness, safety and comfort. Versions are available for the offshore transportation, business and private, public services, and commercial passenger transport markets. Its entry into service is planned for 2020.

Renowned for its combination of versatility and comfort, the ACH helicopter range is well regarded by passengers and pilots for its stylish interiors, smooth and quiet ride allied to its technologically advanced Helionix digital avionics systems ensuring carefree handling and a high level of safety.

The full ACH range consists of the ACH125, ACH130, ACH135, new ACH145, ACH160 and ACH175 variants of Airbus Helicopters’ comprehensive and market-leading family of light and medium models. A range of premium-design aircraft completions, including customised solutions, is available for all models.

Airbus has been present in the Philippines for some 40 years leading the corporate and parapublic helicopter market segments. Through its Manila-based customer centre, Airbus Helicopters Philippines provides maintenance, repair and overhaul, support and service solutions to more than 50 customers.

Japan Coast Guard signs HCare Smart for its H225 fleet

Airbus’ material management programme will cover the maintenance of all ten helicopters over five years.

The H225 offers the industry’s best speed, range, payload and reliability in an 11-tonne-category twin-turbine rotorcraft

Farnborough – Japan Coast Guard (JCG) has signed with Airbus Helicopters for an HCare Smart full-by-the-hour material management contract, for a period of five years. Beginning in July, the contract will cover comprehensive maintenance support, including parts-bythe-hour for JCG’s H225 fleet. With the provision of all the parts needed for the maintenance of the rotorcraft in one single contract, this will yield better cost control and forecasting, as well as more efficient day-to-day management for JCG.

Earlier this year, JCG has placed an additional order of H225 helicopter, bringing its overall H225 fleet to a total of ten units by March 2021. The newly-signed HCare Smart contract will cover the entirety of ten H225s currently on order, of which five are already in service.

Olivier Tillier, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters Japan said: “This being the first and most large-scale adoption of the HCare Smart programme in the Japanese parapublic market, makes it exceptionally meaningful for Airbus. JCG has been a long-standing customer for more than two decades, and it is fast becoming the largest Super Puma operator in Japan today. We are strongly confident that our highly adaptive HCare Smart programme will deliver high fleet availability, reduce aircraft down-time and reinforce the capabilities of JCG’s fleet. Our Airbus Helicopters team in Japan is fully committed to ensure that JCG’s fleet is always performing at its maximum readiness level, while ensuring the highest level of safety for all missions.”

JCG currently operates three AS332s and five H225s. Over the last 25 years, its Airbus fleet has been involved in a multitude of activities, ranging from security enforcement and territorial coastal activities to disaster relief missions in Japan.

Airbus Helicopters’ HCare services provide the most comprehensive aftermarket service coverage, grouped into five domains. Among them, HCare material management offers three different service packages – HCare Infinite, with a full availability commitment; HCare Smart, with four by-the-hour options; and HCare Easy, with on-request catalogue services.