Superior Helicopter has signed the first Airbus Helicopters HCare Infinite support contract in North America. It will also take delivery of additional H125s from Airbus later this year.

“Superior Helicopter Services is very proud to be a partner with Airbus, Sterling Helicopter and Safran Helicopter Engines, who are global leaders in the industry,” says president Hugh P Harlan. “Through this partnership, we have been provided with pilot and aircraft efficiency and safety. This partnership helps us continue to provide exceptional levels of service to our customers that have been previously inaccessible without our helicopter support structure.”

Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, Superior Helicopter Services will soon be operating with two Airbus Helicopters for seeding and restoration missions. It believes the H125 outclasses other single-engine helicopters for performance, versatility, low maintenance and low acquisition costs, while excelling in high and hot and extreme environments. The HCare contract is the first in the world to be secured through a partnership with an Airbus-approved service centre, Sterling Helicopter, which is based out of Croydon, Pennsylvania.

“We are proud to partner with Airbus to provide a turn-key, full-coverage service solution to customers who can benefit from the expertise of the manufacturer to handle all of their support needs,” says Sterling Helicopter general manager Jason Smith. “We look forward to helping offer HCare service contracts to more operators throughout the US.”

HCare Infinite is Airbus' most comprehensive level of material management services, requiring the company to guarantee the customer's full fleet operational availability, including maintenance, technical support, and the supply of spare parts, tools and consumables.

“It's an honour to have Superior be our first North American customer to benefit from the performance commitments within the HCare Infinite offer,” adds Airbus Helicopters vice president of customer support and services Anthony Baker. “Airbus and Sterling Helicopter will take care of everything, allowing Superior to focus on managing its business and growing its operations with its new H125s.”

Airbus Helicopters' range of HCare material management services starts out with Easy (on-request catalogue services) and Smart (four by-the-hour options), before progressively building up to Infinite (full availability commitments).

HCare covers material management; helicopter maintenance, MRO and upgrades; technical support; training and flight operations; and connected services 24 hours a day.