Heli-One Secures Contract To Provide Upgrade For Royal Malaysian Air Force S-61 Fleet

May 24, 2016 – Delta, BC, Canada – Heli-One, a leading global provider of helicopter maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services has signed an agreement with AIROD to provide the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) with glass cockpit upgrades for their fleet of Sikorsky S-61 aircrafts. This collaboration will modernize and extend the operational capability of the RMAF S-61A-4 NURI.

This contract builds on Heli-One’s recent success in providing flight display upgrades, including the Airbus AS332 and planned work on the Sikorsky S-76 platform. Upgrading and modernizing the flight display, as well as other flight critical systems, is a more cost effective and less disruptive option than purchasing new helicopters. The design and first aircraft installation for the RMAF S-61 is expected to be completed in time for the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition in March 2017.

AIROD is Malaysia's leading MRO centre with over 30 years of experience in aviation support, including the S-61 platform. This work, expected to be completed over a span of three years, will help add to Malaysia's pool of skilled workers and personnel in the aviation sector. The design project will also strengthen AIROD's position in the global MRO market, resulting from enhanced technical capabilities of staff and development of new technologies to support this implementation.

Heli-One has a rich design history with over 40 years of design experience and has recently established an EASA-approved Flight Test Organization at their Norway facility. Heli-One has supported the S-61 platform for over 40 years and continues to find new and innovative ways to safely maximize the lifespan of this durable utility aircraft. This cockpit upgrade will enable the aircraft to fly in day and night under all weather conditions and addresses obsolescence issues - allowing the NURIs to extend their lifespan for at least another 15 years.

Heli-One will perform work at their facilities as well as in Malaysia with AIROD. Heli-One will complete the design and installation of the initial aircraft and AIROD will perform the upgrades on the remainder of the fleet.

“We are delighted to embark on this exciting program with AIROD, which showcases Heli-One’s ability to deliver complex helicopter upgrade programs anywhere in the world, in a win-win relationship with a local partner,” said Anthony DiNota, President, Heli-One. “This upgrade provides RMAF with a very cost-effective solution to extend the life of their helicopter fleet and maximize their capability. They will benefit from the latest technology at minimum cost.”