France renews engine maintenance contract with Safran

The contract, known as Saturne (Soutien Avancé des Turbines de l’Etat), covers the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of engines powering aircraft operated by branches of the French government, including the French Army, French Air and Space Force, French Navy, the Sécurité Civile, Gendarmerie, Customs and the DGA Essais en vol.

The contract also covers most of Safran’s helicopter engine types, including the Arrano 1A, which powers H160s operated by the National Gendarmerie, as well as the new H160M Guépard currently in development.

“With the signing of the Saturne contract, the French government has renewed its confidence in Safran Helicopter Engines to ensure the availability of its fleet of 1,600 helicopter engines,” said Franck Saudo, President of Safran Helicopter Engines. “We are committed to ensuring 100-per-cent engine availability on the French government fleet be it in France, overseas and on external operations, as we have continuously done for over 14 years.”

The government awarded its original maintenance contract to Safran in 2001, later renewing it in 2011. The new Saturne contract will extend the partnership for a further ten years.

Work conducted under the Saturne contract will be managed from Safran’s site in Tarnos, France. The new contract will expand the scope of services offered to include the use of engine operating data and the provision of digital services to simplify day-to-day maintenance management.