Bristow Group has committed to a framework contract for up to 15 H135 helicopters, comprising five firm orders and 10 options, with Airbus Helicopters. The delivery of the first helicopter is scheduled for October 2024. All H135s will be powered by the Arrius 2B2 engine from Safran, for which in-service support and MRO will be provided by SBH (support-by-the-hour) under an hourly support contract.

“Our longstanding relationship with Airbus, coupled with our extensive experience operating the H135 since 2006, underscores the helicopter’s exceptional performance and reliability,” says Stu Stavley, chief operating officer, offshore energy services for Bristow Group. “The H135 has proven itself to be a very capable helicopter, both for missions offshore and overland.

“Our decision to select Safran Helicopter Engines’ Arrius 2B2 to power our H135s is driven by our commitment to operational excellence. The Arrius 2B2 engine’s support offering aligns perfectly with our mission requirements to meet our customer needs.”

Airbus CEO Bruno Even adds: “I’d like to thank the Bristow Group for its renewed trust in our helicopters. Airbus Helicopters and Bristow Group share a long history and I am very proud to open a new chapter in our partnership. The H135 has proven itself perfect for offshore missions with customers all over the world, especially thanks to the Helionix avionics suite, which reduces pilot workload and increases safety.”

The engines will be supported primarily by Safran Helicopter Engines USA in Grand Prairie, Texas, which supports more than 400 customers in the US and a total fleet of 3,200 engines.

Safran CEO Cédric Goubet says: “We are particularly proud that such a renowned operator as Bristow Group has chosen our Arrius to power its fleet of H135 helicopters. Over the years, the Arrius has continued to establish itself as the preferred choice for H135 operators looking for the engine best suited to their demanding missions. In addition, choosing our SBH contract will guarantee them the best choice of in-service support.”

With a power output of 633shp at take off and 580shp at cruise, the Arrius 2B2 is one of the most powerful variants in the Arrius engine family. With over 4,000 Arrius engines delivered to 430 customers in 60 countries, and more than 10 million hours in service, the Arrius family covers a power range from 450 to 750shp, and is the most popular engine range for single and twin-engine light helicopters.

SBH provides visibility on engine operating costs and smooths financial flows, while making scheduled and unscheduled maintenance operations more flexible. It is integrated into a range of high value-added digital services such as health monitoring, expert link and online SBH. Today, half of Safran Helicopter Engines’ engine flight hours are covered by the SBH service.