Avincis, which has a fleet of 180 helicopters operating in Europe, has for the first time chosen Lisbon in Portugal as the location for a large-scale scheduled maintenance procedure on one of its Italian-based aircraft. The helicopter arrived at its service facility in Lisbon from Italy and will receive a complete overhaul from the Portuguese technical team.

With this pilot project, Avincis continues its investment strategy in the country and strengthens its helicopter MRO base at Salemas Heliport, Lisbon, after establishing the Portuguese capital as the home for its global corporate headquarters in 2023.

The company expects to create more work and give more long-term job security to its Portuguese workforce with this initiative. Until now, Avincis in Lisbon has only worked on helicopters from its Portuguese and Spanish fleets. For example, the Spanish firefighting fleet of 10 aircraft is maintained here over the winter months.

The AW139 aircraft, which provides emergency medical as well as search and rescue services from the operator’s Colico base at Lake Como in Italy, will remain in Lisbon for around 10 weeks while the two-yearly inspection is carried out. This operation will be conducted by around 10 engineers, technicians and support staff who will work on this aircraft exclusively until the inspection is complete.

Over the last three years, around three dozen helicopters have been maintained, repaired or overhauled at the Lisbon base. John Boag, Avincis Group CEO, states: “The project strengthens the investment made in developing Lisbon into a centre of excellence for maintenance and training. This initiative confirms that Portugal is the right location for us, geographically and in terms of available talent in the labour market. The company has already created 10 new technical jobs in the last year using highly specialised labour, which we want to maintain and increase.

“Mobilising aircraft between the countries in which Avincis has operations is not only a rational decision to make efficiency gains where they exist, but also a demonstration of the size, capacity and resources of the company as a group, factors that distinguish us from other operators in the different markets.”

In Portugal, Avincis employs around 100 people, providing HEMS for the National Institute for Medical Emergencies with four aircraft, and aerial firefighting with both fixed and rotary wing aircraft at the service of the National Civil Protection Authority, including two Canadair aircraft.