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.

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Airbus Helicopters