Pratt & Whitney Canada has signed an agreement with global helicopter distributor Rotortrade to increase the number of helicopter engines the company will enrol every year to the Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Engine Program, further supporting the marketability of its helicopters.

“Rotortrade has built its business as the only helicopter dealership that provides nose-to-tail certified pre-owned helicopters,” says Philippe Lubrano, CEO and president of Rotortrade. “CPO delivers tangible value to both sellers and buyers of used helicopters. With a certified engine, buyers can make decisions with confidence and then fly their newly purchased aircraft with peace of mind. We are always seeking new and innovative means to deliver benefits to our customer base and Pratt & Whitney Canada's CPO programme does exactly that.”

Rotortrade was one of the first customers of the CPO Engine Program with Pratt & Whitney Canada in 2018. All Pratt & Whitney Canada helicopter engines are eligible for the CPO Engine Program, which offers a two-year/500-hour warranty. The engine must have been maintained at a P&WC-owned or designated facility, contain only genuine P&WC parts and pass a thorough inspection conducted by a licensed inspector.

Dealers such as Rotortrade can differentiate their inventory by promoting that their engines come with a P&WC-backed inspection and warranty. Operators can purchase a pre-owned helicopter with peace of mind and confidence knowing the aircraft's engines have the engine manufacturer's stamp of approval.

“Rotortrade has been a key supporter of the CPO Engine Program, and we are delighted to further strengthen our relationship with it,” says Irene Makris, vice president, customer service, Pratt & Whitney Canada. “This programme delivers value to both sellers and buyers of used helicopters. Our relationship with Rotortrade demonstrates our commitment to support customers with innovative solutions.”

In addition to the warranty, CPO customers are also entitled to; a credit of up to $15,000 USD towards enrolment in Pratt & Whitney Canada's Eagle Service Plan (ESP) engine maintenance programme; a one-year complimentary subscription to the Pratt & Whitney Canada technical publications maintenance collection; and discounts on engine maintenance training from Pratt & Whitney Canada's global training supplier FlightSafety International.

“The CPO Engine Program is another example of our comprehensive efforts to support our customers and can provide them with an attractive avenue to upgrade to an ESP enrolment, which goes well beyond the warranty and provides long-term peace of mind, predictable maintenance costs and increased asset value throughout the lifecycle of their engines,” Makris continues.

Bell Textron has also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Rotortrade to define optimal pre-owned helicopter solutions to Bell and its customers.

Through this MOU, Bell and Rotortrade will explore how they can offer expanded trade-in solutions to their customers, making it easier to upgrade to newer aircraft model and offer more affordable, pre-owned solutions. Additionally, Rotortrade aims to expand its pre-owned inventory by adding more Bell aircraft to its fleet.

“Bell and Rotortrade are excited to explore a relationship that will provide a real advantage to our customers,” says Patrick Moulay, senior VP of international commercial business, Bell. “Bell is eager to work with Rotortrade to offer customers trade-in solutions, such as the sale of the customer's helicopter pre-arranged by Rotortrade when the order for a new Bell helicopter is placed, enabling the customer to seamlessly transition from the used aircraft to the brand-new aircraft. This MOU will allow us to develop a strategy to better serve our customers' needs and expand our global reach.”

Finally, helicopter leasing company the Milestone Aviation Group has signed an MOU for the sale of up to seven helicopters to Rotortrade. The seven helicopter portfolio includes a mix of Airbus H225 and Bell 412 helicopters, which will be delivered to Rotortrade over the coming months.

“We are pleased to partner with Rotortrade for the sale of these helicopters. This transaction is evidence of the maturity of the Milestone platform and our robust portfolio management strategy, which is a key component of our success,” comments Pat Sheedy, CEO of Milestone Aviation. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with Rotortrade whose global reach offers the potential for many exciting opportunities ahead.”

“We are delighted to have signed this agreement with Milestone Aviation, one of the most respected names in the helicopter leasing industry,” adds Lubrano. "This partnership showcases our expertise and experience in the H225 segment, and we look forward to having Milestone's high-quality helicopters in our inventory.”