Heli-Expo, Anaheim, 25 February 2014

Turbomeca is celebrating the first test run of the Arrano which occurred in February at Bordes' facility (France). The new 1,100 shp engine unveiled last year at Heli-Expo in Las Vegas is designed to power four to-six ton twin engine helicopters and single engine helicopters close to three tons. It fits between the Arriel and Ardiden power ranges.

Oeilduchat

In today's market, the Arrano is unmatched in its category: a major benefit of this new engine is a 10 to 15% reduction in specific fuel consumption, when compared with other engines in service today, contributing to improved performance (range, payload) and reduced environmental footprint. Cost of ownership will be reduced through Turbomeca's optimized maintenance concept designed to significantly decrease the need for on-site servicing.

The first variant of the Arrano family, the Arrano 1A, will power the Airbus Helicopters X4, new-generation 5-to-6-tons helicopter.

Heli-Expo, Anaheim, 25 February 2014

Turbomeca announced the achievement of a major milestone for both Blue Hawaiian Helicopters and Turbomeca. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters is expected to exceed 500,000 flight hours on the Turbomeca Arriel engine prior to the end of the year.

Blue Hawaiian currently flies Arriel 1D1 and 2B1 engines, and has most recently added the Arriel 2D engine into their growing fleet of Turbomeca products. They fly an average of approximately twenty-seven thousand hours per year with a fleet of twenty-four helicopters all powered by Turbomeca engines.

Turbomeca and Blue Hawaiian have been partners since 1985 and as Hawaii's air-tour leader for over 25 years and the only helicopter company to serve all four major Hawaiian Islands, Turbomeca is proud to be a part of this milestone achievement with one of its most valued customers and looks forward to continuing this solid business partnership well into the future.

"We have high confidence in the reliability of Turbomeca engines and appreciate their excellent customer service", said David Chevalier, CEO Blue Hawaiian Helicopters.

At Heli-Expo Turbomeca celebrates 40 million flying hours logged by Arriel engines. The milestone is further proof of the exceptional reliability offered by this family of turboshafts: since 1977, over 11,000 engines of the type have been produced. Many of the 40 million hours have been flown during operations in extreme conditions on 40...

Heli-Expo, Anaheim, 26 February 2014

Waypoint Leasing, a leading global helicopter leasing company, and Turbomeca (Safran), a leading helicopter engine manufacturer, signed a Framework Agreement today at Heli-Expo under which Turbomeca will provide engine support services to Waypoint Leasing's current and future customer base, including operators using Turbomeca's Makila 2A and 2A1 engines and Arriel 1S1 and 2S2 engines.

The companies will leverage Turbomeca's international network of 15 support sites and numerous affiliate maintenance centers to direct this global support program and maximize the engines' operational activity. A designated Service Engineer and Customer Support Manager at Turbomeca USA will be responsible for coordinating with Field Representatives worldwide to monitor the engines and provide recommendations to operators to improve engine reliability and performance.

Olivier Andriès, Chairman and CEO of Turbomeca, said, "We are excited to partner with Waypoint and help add value to its growing base of helicopter operators worldwide. Waypoint's customers that use our Makila and Arriel engines will experience unparalleled customer service and improved long-term performance."

Ed Washecka, CEO of Waypoint Leasing, added, "Turbomeca engines are among the best and most reliable on the market. With today's agreement, our customers that are operating aircraft with Turbomeca's engines will benefit from premium service and maintenance...

Heli-Expo, Anaheim, 27 February 2014

Turbomeca announces the conclusion of a major support contract with ADAC Luftfahrt Technik GmbH. A new ten-year Support By the Hour (SBH®) contract covers 28 Arriel 2E engines powering fourteen EC 145T2 operated by ADAC Luftrettung GmbH.

ADAC Luftfahrt Technik GmbH is located near Bonn, Germany and performs airframe and engine maintenance for operators in Europe including ADAC, ANWB and Luxembourg Air Rescue.

ADAC Luftrettung GmbH, a subsidiary of the German Automobile Club ADAC, operates 49 emergency rescue and medical helicopters from 35 stations in Germany. It also flies from stations in Austria and at Groningen in The Netherlands. Each year, the ‘yellow angel' service completes more than 47,000 often life-saving missions.

At Heli-Expo Turbomeca celebrates 40 million flying hours logged by Arriel engines. The milestone is further proof of the exceptional reliability offered by this family of turboshafts: since 1977, over 11,000 engines of the type have been produced. Many of the 40 million hours have been flown during operations in extreme conditions on 40 different types of helicopter.

Bordes, 5 May 2014

The first engine test bench run of Turbomeca's new Arrius 2R turboshaft took place on April 29th 2014 at the company's Bordes factory in southwestern France.

The latest Arrius variant is destined for Bell Helicopter's new Jet Ranger replacement, the Bell 505 Jet Ranger XTM, and the initial rotations were witnessed by Bell Helicopter's 505 Program Director Paul Watts and the new rotorcraft's development team.

The Arrius 2R is designed to deliver performance and power within the 500 shaft horsepower range, while improving safety and lowering pilot workload via a Full Authority Dual-channel Engine Control (FADEC). The twin-module configuration will reduce fuel consumption and lead to lower operating costs.

Rémy Bertand / Turbomeca

More than 3,000 Arrius engines have been sold by Turbomeca, accumulating 6.6 million flight hours for 430 customers in 60 countries. This proven reliability is built into the 2R and reinforced by a 3,000 hour Time-Between-Overhaul to be offered at service entry. The engine will also benefit from Turbomeca's renowned service and support capabilities.

Launched in 2013, development of the Arrius 2R is proceeding to schedule and certification is planned for the end of 2015.

The Bell 505 Jet Ranger X was...

Bordes, 19 May 2014

At HeliRussia (May 22-24 2014, Moscow), Turbomeca (Safran) will display two of its latest products, the Ardiden 3G – the new member of the Ardiden family selected to power the new Russian Helicopters Kamov Ka-62 – and the 2,100 to 2,600shp shaft horsepower RTM322.

The Ardiden is designed to deliver 1,400 to 2,000 shp to helicopters in the five to eight-ton class. The Ardiden 1 (Shakti) powers Hindustan Aeronautics' Dhruv, Ardiden 3G - Kamov Ka-62 and Ardiden 3C (WZ16) - China's AVICopter AC352.

Turbomeca has delivered eight prototype Ardiden 3G units to the Ka-62 flight test campaign; the aircraft's maiden flight is scheduled to take place in the second half of this year. Turbomeca teams are supporting Russian Helicopters engineers throughout the preparation phase and will continue to do so during flight tests.

The RTM322, now a 100% Turbomeca product, is fitted to the WAH64 Apache, AW101 and NH90. It recently staked a place in aviation history by setting a new world speed record, 255 knots, when installed in the Airbus Helicopters twin-engine X3 hybrid rotorcraft.

More than 150 helicopters in Russia today are flying with over 200 Turbomeca engines, among them the Arriel, Turbomeca world best-seller. Certification tests of the modernised Ka-226T, fitted with Arrius 2G1 engines, are nearing completion. Launch customer Gazprom Avia has ordered eighteen helicopters. A long-term contract with Russian Helicopters to...

Bordes, 1 August 2014

German air rescue service DRF Luftrettung has taken delivery of the first of 20 EC145 T2 from Airbus Helicopters in Donauwoerth. This new version of the EC145, certified in April 2014, is powered by the latest member of the Arriel family, the Arriel 2E.

Certified in January 2013 by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the Arriel 2E is an 894 shp turboshaft that delivers over 20 per cent more power than the Arriel 1E2 fitted to the original EC145. The 2E benefits from a new axial compressor and new turbine blades, which improve performance and lower the fuel consumption of a proven design.

Enhanced Safety. A new-generation dual-channel FADEC reduces pilot workload and features a 30-minute emergency power rating. A new Engine Data Recorder further shifts the emphasis from traditional to preventive maintenance. Such innovations, with enhanced troubleshooting and monitoring tools, also drastically reduce unscheduled removals and significantly improve availability.

Reliability. The increased power output of the 2E, coupled with its new-design components, ensures that the Arriel remains the most reliable engine in its class. Since 1977, Turbomeca has produced over 11,000 Arriel engines in 28 variants. These have recorded 40 million flying hours while in service with 1,300 customers in 110 countries.

Reduced cost. A modular design, combined with a higher TBO (Time...

Bordes, September 26 September 2014

Aero Asahi Corporation and its subsidiary Central Helicopter Service, have signed with Turbomeca a 5 year extension of the SBH® ("Support By the Hour") contract covering their fleet of Arriel 2 and Arriel 1E2 engines.

More than 50 engines powering AS350B3/AS365N3/S76C+ and BK117C2 helicopters are now maintained through the SBH® program and used for all type of missions, from Utility to EMS, as well as VIP transportation.

Turbomeca and Aero Asahi recently celebrated a partnership of more than 50 years and are looking forward to the successful growth of their mutual activities.

Mr. Hirofumi Iwashita, GM Procurement and Logistics, said: "The SBH® contract allows for better control of operation cost as well as enhanced proximity support from Turbomeca."

Part of Toyota Motors Group of Companies, Aero Asahi is a leading Helicopter operator in Japan.

Bordes, 13 October 2014

Specifically developed to power light single and twin helicopters, the 2B2plus powers the Airbus Helicopters EC135 T3. The first delivery to a customer from Airbus Helicopters is expected in the coming weeks.

The 2B2plus is the latest member of the Arrius family, which recording 7 million flight hours and making it the most used engine family of its class on the market. In addition to its unmatched reliability, it offers a number of advantages over existing models : the engine delivers a 6% power increase in hot and high conditions compared to the previous 2B2 version, strongly contributing to the T3 ability to carry more than 200 kg extra payload at the same altitude.

A 4,000 hours TBO (Time Between Overhaul) coupled with low fuel consumption makes the 2B2plus one of the most competitive engine in its class.

Its flight profile increases the safety margin of particular missions, such as EMS missions, flown over congested areas, where a strong single-engine performance is required.

The 2B2plus has a simple and modern design that is facilitating maintenance tasks. Customers also benefit from a computerized maintenance aid that makes use of the data recorded from the Engine Electronic Control Unit.

All these benefits are granted at the same direct maintenance cost (DMC) to the previous 2B2 version. Furthermore, all current tools and parts are still good for the 2B2plus. No additional training is required....

Airshow China, Zhuhai, 10 November 2014

During the 3rd Customer Symposium in China (15th and 16th October) in Hangzhou, which brought together more than 100 participants from operators and airlines, Turbomeca strengthened its partnership with three Chinese customers.

Government Flying Services (GFS) has renewed the SBH (Support By the Hour) contract with Turbomeca, which covers their fleet of Arriel and Makila engines. Based in Hong Kong, GFS operates seven helicopters.

Turbomeca has celebrated the 200,000 hour milestone under SBH support contract with Citic Offshore Helicopter Company (COHC), which operates a fleet of 76 Turbomeca engines. COHC is the biggest helicopter airline in China mainly dedicated to offshore transport.

Turbomeca China and State Grid General Aviation Company (SGGAC) have strengthened their cooperation with the signature of a new SBH contract. SGGAC is the China's largest helicopter operator in the power and electricity sectors and a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Grid Corporation of China, one of the world's largest electricity providers. SGGAC operates a fleet of five Turbomeca engines.

Hervé Pasbecq, General Manager of Turbomeca China, said: "We are proud to be associated with these three major Chinese customers. We are honored to support their demanding missions, providing safety, reliability, innovation and proximity, our core values to keep them flying".

SBH provides the operators with a fixed cost...

Airshow China, Zhuhai, 10 November 2014

Turbomeca is showcasing its innovative products for helicopter market at Airshow China 2014, from 11th to 16th November 2014. Two mockups will be featured at the Safran booth (Hall 1, D3-6): Ardiden 3C and Arrius 2 turboshaft engines.

Developed in 50/50 partnership with Avic Engine, Ardiden 3C was ground tested for the first time in Bordes (France) in November 2013. Named WZ16 in China, the 1,700 shaft horsepower class Ardiden 3C belongs to the Ardiden 3 engine family, dedicated to the 6 to 8 ton helicopter segment. Ardiden 3C/WZ16 has been selected to power Avicopter AC352, jointly developed with Airbus Helicopters.

The Ardiden 3C/WZ16 program is the result of a strong and long lasting cooperation between Turbomeca and Avic. Through this partnership, operators and aircraft manufacturers will benefit from the know-how and experience of two key players in the field of aircraft propulsion.

Arrius 2 is one of Turbomeca's best-selling engine families with over 3000 units delivered worldwide, logging around 6.6 Million flight hours. This 450 to 750 shaft horsepower engine family exhibits a robust design, with two main modules, and a new generation dual-channel FADEC system (Full Authority Digital Engine Control). Arrius 2 is one of the best engines in its class for single and twin engine helicopters. Recently, it has been selected by Bell Helicopter to power the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X.

In September...

Airshow China, Zhuhai, 10 November 2014

Hervé Pasbecq was appointed General Manager of Turbomeca China in April 2014. He was formerly Vice President, Engine Programs at Turbomeca USA. Most recently he served as Head of Arrius and Makila Engine Programs.

Turbomeca China has 31 employees in its office located in Beijing. Turbomeca's presence in China is based on 40 years of cooperation with the Chinese industry. With over 500 engines in operation in the country, it is the leading helicopter engine supplier in China: one helicopter out of two is equipped with Turbomeca engines or licensed products.

Mirabel, 11 November 2014

Turbomeca is proud to be part of the Bell Helicopter Bell 505 Jet Ranger X first flight with its new Arrius 2R engine, which is the newest member of the successful Arrius family. The Bell 505 Jet Ranger X took the sky for the first time on 10 November, at the Bell Helicopter Mirabel facility.

Turbomeca Chairman & CEO Olivier Andriès said, "The Bell 505 first flight is a historic milestone for Turbomeca. Our very first cooperation with Bell Helicopter has been a success, and we are honored and delighted that a company with such a high reputation for product quality and support trusts us to support such an important program".

The development of the Arrius 2R is on track: launched in 2013, the Arrius 2R is following an aggressive development schedule that included a first ground test on April 29 2014 at the company's Bordes factory. FAA, EASA and Transport Canada engine type certifications are planned for the end of 2015.

The Arrius 2R is designed to deliver performance and power within the 500 shaft horsepower range, while improving safety and lowering pilot workload via a Full Authority Dual-channel Engine Control (FADEC). The twin-module configuration helps reduce fuel consumption and leads to lower operating costs.

The engine will be assembled at the Turbomeca USA facility in Dallas,Texas.

More than 3,000 Arrius engines have been sold by Turbomeca, accumulating 6.6 million flight...

Bordes, 7 December 2014

Today, Turbomeca celebrates the 40th anniversary of the first flight of one of its most famous engines – the Arriel. Fitted to a Gazelle airframe, an Arriel prototype took to the skies for the first time on 7 December 1974, from Turbomeca's flight test center at Pau Airport.

The original Arriel was designed in 1969 by Gottlieb Sporer and its first ground run, at 600 shaft horsepower, took place in September 1973. The first two variants, Arriel 1A for the Dauphin and Arriel 1B for the Ecureuil, were certified in June 1977.

Turbomeca Chairman & CEO Olivier Andriès said, "the Arriel engine has a rich history and there is still so much to be written. By updating it with the latest technologies, it remains a cutting-edge engine".

During the past 40 years around 11,500 Arriel units have been produced, together logging more than 42 million flight hours. With power outputs ranging from 650 to 950 shp, the Arriel family now powers over 40 different helicopters. Its latest model, Arriel 2E for the EC145 T2, was certified in December 2012 and entered service in August 2014.

An Arriel-powered helicopter takes off every 15 seconds – all day, every day.

Bordes, 10 December 2014

Turbomeca announces the entry-into-service of its Arrius 2B2^plus on the EC135 T3. Airbus Helicopters has celebrated the entry-into-service of the first production EC135 T3 to Italy's Aiut Alpin Dolomites, a mountain rescue operator, during a ceremony in Pontives, Italy.

Specifically developed to power light helicopters, the Arrius 2B2^plus was certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on 10 September 2014.

The 2B2^plus is the latest member of the Arrius family, which has recorded seven million flight hours and is the most used engine family of its class on the market. In addition to its unmatched reliability, it offers a number of advantages over existing models : the engine delivers a six per cent power increase in hot and high conditions compared to the earlier 2B2 version, strongly contributing to the T3's ability to carry 200 kg extra payload at the same altitude.

When combined with low fuel consumption, the 4,000 hours TBO (Time Between Overhaul) makes the 2B2^plus the most competitive engine in its class. Its flight profile widens the safety margin within demanding missions, such as EMS missions, flying over congested areas, where a strong single-engine performance is required.

The 2B2^plus has a simple and modern design that makes maintenance easier. Customers also benefit from a computerized maintenance aid that makes use of recorded data...

Bordes, 9 January 2015

World-leading helicopter engine manufacturer Turbomeca is setting up new manufacturing capability at its facility in Bordes (France). After years of maturation and prototype testing, Turbomeca has entered serial production of parts using the latest additive manufacturing, or 3D printing process. Bordes facility is one of the first of its kind to serial produce additive components for aerospace propulsion industry in France.

Arrano test and production engines will feature fuel injector nozzles made using Selective Laser Melting (SLM) techniques. This leading-edge manufacturing process will also be used to manufacture Ardiden 3 combustor swirlers. These engines are Turbomeca's latest models and amongst the most advanced turboshafts ever designed.

Turbomeca / Remy Bertrand

Additive manufacturing produces parts to a three-dimensional CAD (computer-aided design) model. Unlike traditional manufacturing processes (forging and machining) which are based on material removal, additive manufacturing builds layers, each between 20 and 100-micrometers thick, of fine metal powder to produce complex-shape parts. In the case of SLM, a computer-controlled laser shoots pinpoint beams onto a bed of nickel-based super-alloy powder, to melt the metal in the desired areas.

...

Bordes, 23 January 2015

Turbomeca (Safran) has gained EASA type-certification for its Arriel 2N turboshaft, the latest member of the Arriel 2+ family. The new engine, which first ran in September 2011 at Bordes, offers lower operating costs, increased reliability and superior performance over its predecessors.

Airbus Helicopters has selected the Arriel 2N to power its new AS565 model, the AS565 MBe "Panther". Like the two other family members, the 2D and 2E, the Arriel 2N features a combination of new and proven technologies. It has a new axial compressor, new high-pressure compressor diffuser, new high-pressure turbine material and new-generation dual-channel Fadec.

This combination delivers 17% more take-off power (986 shp/735 kW compared to 840 shp/626 kW) than the current Arriel 2C. It has also been provided with a special 30-minute take-off power rating for the most demanding missions.

A new Engine Data Recorder, together with a turbine blade-creep monitor, further shifts the emphasis from traditional to preventive maintenance. The innovations also drastically reduce unscheduled removals, significantly improve airframe availability and contribute to a TBO (Time Between Overhaul) of up to 3,500 hours (at entry into service), then up to 4,000 hours at maturity.

During the past 40 years around 11,500 Arriel units have been produced, together logging more than 42 million flight hours. With power outputs ranging from 650 to 990 shp,...

Orlando, HAI Heli-Expo, 4 March 2015

Turbomeca (Safran) and Rotortrade have announced at HAI Heli Expo 2015 a further step in their cooperation with the launch of a specific warranty program that will cover Turbomeca-powered pre-owned helicopters sold by Rotortrade Services worldwide.

According to Franck Saudo, Turbomeca Executive Vice President Support and Services, this innovative program, the first ever launched by an engine manufacturer, "will provide Turbomeca customers added value compared to other OEM's engines. This agreement shows a new development strategy on the worldwide second-hand helicopter market. Through this extended warranty service, Turbomeca confirms the group's determination to remain a pioneer and leader in this business".

Philippe Lubrano, Rotortrade Services' Senior Partner, stated that "this agreement is a further demonstration of Rotortrade Services' strong relationship with major OEMs, as well of its commitment to offer ever broader range of services to its customers. This new capability is part of an overall strategy to professionalize the second-hand helicopters market towards a more customer-oriented and value-added approach".

Orlando, HAI Heli-Expo, 5 March 2015

Turbomeca (Safran) and DRF Luftrettung announce the signature of a 10-year Support By the Hour (SBH) contract for their 40 Arriel 2E engines. With the Turbomeca-powered EC145T2 fleet DRF Luftrettung perform HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) missions in Germany.

Richard Musil, CEO of Turbomeca Germany GmbH mentioned, "After signing a five year SBH contract for 26 Arriel 1E2 engines in February 2012, DRF Luftrettung has again chosen the SBH contract to cover the engines of their newest fleet. This is a further step that strengthens our relationship with DRF Luftrettung, an important collaboration that has been developed over the last five years." The Turbomeca SBH contract allows customers to tailor agreements based on their operational needs.

Hamburg-based Turbomeca Germany GmbH will provide support and maintenance to DRF Luftrettung engines. "As the first operator worldwide DRF Luftrettung put the first helicopter of type EC 145 T2 officially into service at its HEMS base in Munich on February 11th, 2015. This represents a milestone in modernizing the DRF Luftrettung fleet since this type of helicopter will be delivered to further HEMS bases in 2015 as well. We are very glad to have a reliable partner on our side regarding support and maintenance", explains Steffen Lutz, CEO of DRF Luftrettung.

Founded in 1991, Turbomeca Germany employs 46 persons and provides 24/7 support for 285 customers in 29 countries (located in northern, central and...