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The Helicopter Maintenance Market Today By Ty Corley and Grégory A. Krulic – Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI) Ty Corley
Helicopter Technical Advisor
Jet Support Services, Inc.
Grégory A. Krulic
Director, Business Development Jet Support Services, Inc.
Over the past 18 months helicopters have been used for a variety of different missions linked to Covid-19, including those outside of their usual scope, such as repatriating displaced citizens and transporting medical goods and personal protective equipment to countries in need. Despite the specific challenges aviation has faced, demand for helicopter services has remained consistent throughout the pandemic. Providing hourly cost maintenance (HCM) programmes, parts support, and advisory services to helicopter owners and operators globally for more than 30 years, Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI), is well placed to examine helicopter operations in Europe, fleet maintenance needs and the options available to operators to ensure efficient operations. Ty Corley, helicopter technical advisor at JSSI and technical chairman of the British Helicopter Association (BHA), and Grégory A. Krulic, director of business development at JSSI, discuss some of the current industry challenges and opportunities: Q. The Covid-19 crisis had an impact on all areas of aviation. How did it affect JSSI’s helicopter customers?
Krulic: It’s the ability to bring an alternative to the market that our customers really appreciate. The message from the market is clear: choice is important.
Krulic: Across both the HCM and parts side of the JSSI business, we have seen a consistent trend between helicopter hours flown and the type of operations. For example, when the pandemic hit, VIP helicopter usage dropped off for approximately two months. During this time, JSSI took a comprehensive approach to supporting customers with a relief plan while they were not flying. In June 2020, we started to see VIP customers flying again.
Corley: In addition, JSSI is buying stock from the OEMs too, so everyone benefits.
Corley: Since the pandemic, we have seen an increase in emergency medical services (EMS) helicopters and VIP transport. EMS utilisation has not been reduced by the pandemic; in fact, its usage became even more relevant and twin-engine aircraft, such the Airbus H145 and AgustaWestland AW169, are selling well to keep up with demand. On the VIP charter side of the market, in 2021 we are experiencing a resurgence of utilisation. This can partly be attributed to the return of popular public events in the UK, such as Royal Ascot and the F1 Grand Prix at Silverstone, which are both significant events for the helicopter industry. Krulic: In Europe, nearly all our helicopter customers are either EMS or VIP operators. The industry knows that JSSI can deliver. They trust us and know we can find solutions quickly through our network, no matter if it is the weekend or overnight. Corley: At the peak of the crisis, there was a drive by the BHA for collaboration between UK charter organisations and the UK Department for Transport (DfT). It meant that if the DfT needed transportation for anything Covid related, the BHA would put out a call to all signed up operators to support the requirement. Q. Let’s talk about helicopter services in Europe. What are the current options? Corley: Historically, OEMs have relied on service and distribution centres to hold stock to support any aircraft-on-ground (AOG) requirements. However, this is not always the most efficient option. As an alternative, JSSI has access to a worldwide network of suppliers to offer customers additional support options. In certain circumstances JSSI will consider the provision of consignment stock at our customers’ locations, especially high-value or lowavailability parts.
Q. How does the European market look for parts availability? Corley: Parts support for AOG situations is one challenge that many operators come to us with. JSSI provides customers with a single point of contact, Grégory or myself for example, and we are able to source part numbers through JSSI Parts & Leasing’s vast worldwide vendor network. This is in addition to putting consignment stock in customer locations based on their expected operations and AOG needs. Krulic: Sourcing certain parts can be tricky in some countries; however, we are able to locate parts anywhere in the world for our customers. Parts shipment is also becoming more challenging and JSSI has a network in place to ensure delivery can me made smoothly at the earliest opportunity. Corley: We also cover the entire aircraft. In a lot of cases, a helicopter has a different OEM for its engine, airframe and avionics so traditionally you would need to go to different providers for HCM programs. JSSI is a one-stop shop for the whole helicopter. Krulic: We’re here to give helicopter operators a choice. Customers can compare service levels and financial projections to find the right fit for them. At the end of the day, JSSI is a service company, we live for our customers and aim to be as flexible as possible. Q. What other challenges are helicopter operators facing now? Corley: On top of any Covid-related issues, Brexit has of course caused several operational challenges in Europe, including amplifying the lack of licensed engineers in the market. Notably, the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority accepts European Union Aviation Safety Agency rated engineers, but the agreement is currently not reciprocated. Krulic: A challenge larger helicopter operators face is when they need to change their aircraft or type of operations. These operators are typically more cashflow-oriented and need a service that’s flexible enough to adapt with them, rather than keeping them tied into something unsuitable. This is another area where JSSI’s independence and flexibility can help.
To find out more about JSSI support for helicopter operators, please visit www.jetsupport.com
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