iscoverFor nearly 40 years, Safran Helicopter Engines Australia has been supporting helicopter operators across Oceania by providing tailored engine maintenance and management solutions. Based at Bankstown Airport, Sydney, the company offers local support while benefiting from Safran’s global expertise as as a leader in-aviation manufacturing, maintenance and support.
Among its most valuable services, the Support By the Hour (SBH®) program stands out as a key solution for securing cost predictability and control whilst ensuring maximum aircraft availability.
“Since Corsaire Aviation has signed up for the SBH® program, the security of upcoming maintenance on our fleet of engines under the program has been more predictable, with priority access to Safran’s global inventory. The down payment scheme paid to your next engine or module offers our owner the peace of mind that a replacement component will be available at the next service life limit or overhaul threshold.
Having advanced technical training for our engineers under the program and technical support from the Safran field reps, offers us another advantage to turn our engine maintenance around in reasonable time frames.
The user-friendly portal for hour usage and personalised technical support provided, is just another benefit that offers us the upper hand in our operations under the SBH® program.”
Richard Gaus – Chief Engineer – Corsaire Aviation
SBH®: Anticipating for better cost control
Managing a helicopter fleet’s maintenance involves handling variable costs, spare parts availability, and scheduling interventions. SBH® transforms these challenges into a structured and predictable framework, offering operators the financial predictability and operational efficiency they need to succeed.
Key benefits of SBH® include:
- Fixed, predictable costs: A pay-as-you-fly approach with no minimum charges, eliminating unexpected maintenance expenses and allowing for better financial planning.
- Comprehensive coverage: SBH® covers both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance costs, ensuring all interventions are budgeted.
- Engine availability: Priority access to the Safran worldwide pool of stock, service centers, and expert technical support reduces downtime and keeps aircraft mission-ready.
- Enhanced asset value: SBH® financial provisioning can be valued at resale, as well as the high technical standard under SBH®.
“SBH® offers a usage-based approach, which means that maintenance costs are tied directly to the number of flight hours your aircraft accumulates, eliminating the unpredictability of traditional maintenance models. This structure supports operators to better manage their budget, as both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance are covered. With SBH®, operators can reduce unexpected repair costs and plan ahead for the life-cycle management of their engines, allowing them to focus on flying.”
Kris LOVELL – Managing Director of Safran Helicopter Engines Australia
Beyond financial predictability, SBH® lifts the burden of logistics. SBH® removes a significant amount of administration time by completely eliminating the need to receive and review multiple quotations and options every time an engine, module, or accessory is ordered. With engine maintenance managed behind the scenes, operators can fully focus on what truly matters – their mission. Whether it’s providing emergency medical services, transporting passengers, training future pilots, or conducting aerial work, SBH® keeps them flying, not managing paperwork.
SBH® vs. traditional maintenance: A comparative overview
To illustrate the advantages of SBH®, the table below highlights the key differences between a standard maintenance model and the SBH® program:
This comparison underscores why SBH® is the preferred choice for operators looking to optimize costs while ensuring their fleet’s availability.
This comparison underscores why SBH® is the preferred choice for operators looking to optimize costs while optimizing their fleet’s availability.
Focus on Health Monitoring Premium service: proactive maintenance for maximum engine availability
Safran’s Health Monitoring Premium Service takes proactive maintenance to the next level, ensuring peak performance and reliability for helicopter engines.
Integrated with SBH®, this service uses cutting-edge technology to track and analyze engine parameters, optimizing maintenance and preventing unplanned events.
Service highlights:
- Continuous data collection: Automatic monitoring of engine health indicators such as performance and usage.
- 24/7 expert support: Get alerts and tailored maintenance recommendations anytime through the EngineLife® Customer Portal.
- Customized preventive maintenance: Recommendations are tailored to your fleet’s specific mission and usage.
Benefits of Health Monitoring:
- Proactive maintenance: Detect early signals to prevent removals.
- Planned over unplanned: Improve troubleshooting efficiency and monitor usage.
- Personalized solutions: Adapt maintenance to fit your unique environment.
Safran’s Health Monitoring ensures reliable and expert-driven maintenance strategies, maximizing safety and efficiency for your aviation operations.
A Local Support Network for Australian and Oceanian Operators
Choosing Safran Helicopter Engines Australia means benefiting from local, responsive support tailored to regional needs. With a skilled technical team, dedicated infrastructure, and direct access to Safran’s expertise, operators receive comprehensive solutions to optimize fleet management.
In addition, Safran Helicopter Engines Australia provides on-site technical support, training sessions, and consulting services to ensure that operators get the most out of their SBH® service. Having a dedicated service team in Oceania means faster turnaround times, personalized assistance, and a deeper understanding of the operational challenges faced by local operators.
By leveraging SBH® and Health Monitoring, helicopter owners and operators can ensure cost-effective, reliable, and efficient maintenance, allowing them to focus on their missions with confidence.
“The SBH service has improved significantly over the years to meet customers’ expectations. It can be tailored to their operations. It buys operators peace of mind and has been a great financial tool for them to budget their engine maintenance and keep the costs predictable.
As a Safran Helicopter Engines service centre we design offers and educate operators to the benefits of SBH® and how it can be tailored to them. A few years ago, we only had a few engines under SBH®, but we have now 16 engines covered under this program.”
Pacific Crown Helicopter – Safran Helicopter Engine Certified Maintenance Centre
For more information on how SBH® can benefit your operations, please contact us:
enquiry.f.she.au@safrangroup.
https://www.safran-group.com/companies/safran-helicopter-engines
