Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

Contributor

Mark Huber

Airbus Helicopters continues to take extraordinary measures to alleviate supply-chain difficulties that have disrupted the rotorcraft industry over the last three years. While acknowledging these difficulties in “meeting our customers’ spare parts and repair needs,” the company recently told AIN that it has employed a variety of curative measures.
They include a “massive” $438 million investment in inventories and support for critical suppliers that included the outright acquisition of certain suppliers, such as dynamic component manufacturer ZF Luftfahrttechnik (ZFL) in January. ZFL, now known as Airbus Helicopters Technik,&nbsp;has delivered more than 10,000 helicopter gearboxes worldwide, including those for the Airbus H135 light twin. It is also a partner on the H145 program.
Airbus Helicopters also is dual-sourcing parts and components, making improvements in its “internal setup,” facilitating TBO extensions, and conducting buy-backs of used aircraft to provide parts for out-of-production models. Over the last two years, Airbus has increased production by 60 percent, and its suppliers have boosted output by 35 percent.
In addition to these recovery measures, Airbus Helicopters has identified hundreds of critical parts that it is individually tracking as part of a continuing effort to restore normal supply as quickly as possible.

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Airbus Helicopters Continues To Attack Supply-chain Issues

The rotorcraft OEM is buying suppliers, out-of-production aircraft for parts

Airbus Helicopters has invested $438 million more in parts inventory since 2019.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Panel participants included Boeing, Gulfstream Aerospace, and West Star Aviation

Summit Highlights St. Louis Aero MRO and Manufacturing

Kerry Lynch

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

What began 22 years ago as a Caravan project is now a busy multimillion-dollar business

Building Interiors at Yingling Aviation

MRO services for E1000 turboprops available at company’s Denver location

Stevens Aerospace Joins Epic Aircraft Service Network

Executives share their experience with system

Duncan Adds Gogo 5G to Company Citation Excel

Charles Alcock

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

In this article

Airbus Helicopters

More In Maintenance and Modifications

Summit Highlights St. Louis Aero MRO and Manufacturing

Panel participants included Boeing, Gulfstream Aerospace, and West Star Aviation

Building Interiors at Yingling Aviation

What began 22 years ago as a Caravan project is now a busy multimillion-dollar business

Stevens Aerospace Joins Epic Aircraft Service Network

MRO services for E1000 turboprops available at company’s Denver location

Duncan Adds Gogo 5G to Company Citation Excel

Executives share their experience with system

Australian Regulator Approves Textron Service Centers

Textron operates service centers in Melbourne, Perth, and Gold Coast

C&L Aerospace Tapped for Challenger Flutter Damper Mx

The company was selected by OEM Héroux-Devtek

Avcon Delivers Aerial Weapon in Florida Mosquito Fight

The Kansas-based company specializes in modifying airframes

Duncan Aviation Authorized for Honeywell APU Repairs

MRO’s Lincoln facility expects to bring work online in early 2027

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