Maintenance and Modifications
Airbus Helicopters Continues To Attack Supply-chain Issues
The rotorcraft OEM is buying suppliers, out-of-production aircraft for parts
Airbus Helicopters MRO
© Airbus Helicopters

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, 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.