The Helicopter Company (THC), the first helicopter services provider licensed to operate commercial flights in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has signed an HCare In-Service contract to cover its fleet of 20 five-bladed H145 helicopters. Ordered in December 2021, the fleet will be deployed across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for helicopter emergency medical services. Five have been delivered and the remaining 15 are expected to be completed by the end of 2024. The HCare In-Service package has been tailored to THC’s operational needs, providing it with parts availability by-the-hour services to optimise the fleet’s maintenance and performance.

“In our mission to enhance the aviation environment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the maintenance and usage of our fleet must be optimised for the long-term,” says CEO captain Arnaud Martinez. “Our decision to streamline maintenance services with an HCare In-Service contract covers this requirement and has been tailored to meet our specific mission needs.”

THC has also signed a contract with Safran Helicopter Engines for support for the Arrano and Arriel engines powering its H160, H125 and H145 fleets. This support-by-the-hour (SBH) contract formalises a long-term MRO and services agreement supporting more than 60 engines. SBH makes engine operating costs predictable, eliminates cash peaks and allows flexibility for scheduled and unscheduled MRO coverage.

Safran support France managing director Frédéric Fourciangue says: “This contract marks a new milestone in our partnership with The Helicopter Company. THC is a most important provider of helicopter services, with a very strong growth curve. Safran Helicopter Engines will deploy resources locally to support this key actor, and we are particularly proud to be its partner.”

Martinez adds: “We are delighted to have entered this important technical support partnership with Safran for the engines powering our fleet of Airbus helicopters. It is crucial to have the backing and support of the engine manufacturer to ensure maximum reliability and availability of our Safran-powered fleet.”

THC was established in 2019 by the Public Investment Fund as part of its strategy to activate new sectors in Saudi Arabia that support the realisation of Vision 2030 and generate long term commercial returns, while meeting the growing demand for luxury tourism and air travel services. THC previously signed agreements to buy 10 Airbus H125s and six ACH160 helicopters to increase access to domestic tourism destinations and provide services such as filming and aerial surveying.

HCare In-Service is one of the three flexible solutions included in the new HCare offer, which also includes HCare Initial and HCare Lifetime. For specific fleets, HCare First is available for Airbus Corporate Helicopters aircraft and HCare Classics for the out-of-production legacy fleet of H120, Dauphin, Puma and Gazelle types.