Airbus to supply maintenance to Japan Coast Guard
The Japanese Coast Guard (JCG) has announced than it has signed an agreement with Airbus Helicopters for HCare Smart full-by-the-hour material management for its fleet of 10 H225s, five of which are still to be delivered.
The Japanese Coast Guard (JCG) has announced than it has signed an agreement with Airbus Helicopters for HCare Smart full-by-the-hour material management for its fleet of 10 H225s, five of which are still to be delivered.
The contract will see Airbus provide maintenance support, including part-by-the-hour, for the fleet. According to Airbus, this contract will be more efficient for the service as all parts will be managed in one contract.
“This being the first and most large-scale adoption of the HCare Smart programme in the Japanese parapublic market makes it exceptionally meaningful for Airbus,” said Olivier Tillier, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters Japan. “JCG has been a long-standing customer for more than two decades, and it is fast becoming the largest Super Puma operator in Japan today. We are strongly confident that our highly adaptive HCare Smart programme will deliver high fleet availability, reduce aircraft down-time and reinforce the capabilities of JCG’s fleet.”
JCG placed an additional order for H225 helicopters earlier this year, bringing the total fleet number up to 10. The additional units are expected to be delivered by March 2021. JCG currently operates three AS332s and five H225s.