HANGAR TALK
Columbia Helicopters Enters MoU with Brightwater UAG to Support the GE CT58 Engine and Sikorsky S-61
LCI and SMFL Double Joint Venture Fleet to $240 Million in Two Years
LCI and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company, Limited (SMFL) have acquired and committed to five more next-generation helicopters.
These additional aircraft bring their total joint venture (JV) portfolio to 38 units valued at over $420 million (USD) – a doubling in size in less than two years from when the JV was launched in September 2020 with 19 aircraft.
The most recent helicopters consist of two Airbus H145 D3, two Airbus H145 T2, and one Leonardo AW139. They will be deployed in mission-critical roles in Europe and Asia.
More than 75% of the JV’s total fleet is now deployed on ESG- focused missions such as emergency medical services (EMS), search and rescue (SAR), and serving offshore wind farm operations. The fleet is in operation across various countries including the U.K., Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Norway, as well as Australia.
Jaspal Jandu, CEO at LCI, said, “Our continued expansion is a clear demonstration of the initial success and long-term potential of LCI’s partnership with SMFL. Using our collective expertise, I am confident that we can achieve further growth with an increasing focus on socially aware helicopter missions across the globe.”
Shin Watanabe, managing executive officer at SMFL, said, “The synergy between LCI and SMFL’s shared values and respective strengths continues to deliver impressive results. We will maintain our dynamic and proactive approach so as to contribute positively to society.”
Columbia Helicopters and Brightwater United Aero Group (UAG) recently entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work cooperatively on a supply chain agreement supporting the GE CT58 engine and the Sikorsky S-61 platform in its entirety.
Columbia has operated and maintained the CT58 engine for more than six decades, developing a strong relationship with GE over the years including partnering to evolve the product. In March 2018, Columbia Helicopters became the total logistics support provider for all operators and maintainers of GE T58 and CT58 engines. Under that agreement with GE, Columbia was licensed to produce all procurable spare parts under its FAA production certificate utilizing original equipment manufacturer (OEM) drawings and specifications to provide maintenance for the global fleet.
“This MoU allows us to be well positioned with United Aero Group to support the S-61 and CT58 communities with product/ logistics support and OEM components. We are excited to team with United Aero Group and leverage both of our talents,” says Santiago Crespo, vice president of Growth and Strategy at Columbia Helicopters.
United Aero Group was granted the Sikorsky distributorship of total support of the S-61 platform in 2020. UAG offers a full offering of S-61 support for parts, ground support equipment, and rotables. UAG believes this opportunity to work with Columbia Helicopters in developing a more holistic solution for the future of this platform will support the operators and the OEM at a new level. Jamie Gelder, president and CEO of Brightwater UAG added, “Teaming legacy support leaders for logistics and front office customer support bolstered by the expertise needed in manufacturing and engineering supports the original OEM role by creating new revenue for the platform. We are very pleased in this opportunity to work with Columbia and the OEMs.”
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