Story ID: 394
Vector Cleared to Handle AS350 Upgrades
By: Curt Epstein
Caption: The Canadian MRO provider sees value in customers upgrading to the latest AS350 standard
Word Count: 468

MRO specialist Vector Aerospace has received approval to upgrade the AS350BA model to the AS350B2 standard. Since the beginning of the year, the company has completed two of the conversions, and according to president and CEO Declan O’Shea, it expects to perform another 10 by the end of the year and similar numbers annually for the next four years. Vector Aerospace is wholly owned by Airbus Helicopters.

Depending on the age of the helicopter, the conversion kit costs approximately $800,000 split between the cost of the new Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 engine and modifications to the airframe, systems and instrumentation. The Canadian company can either perform the upgrade at its British Columbia facility, or it can dispatch the kit along with a crew to any operator’s location worldwide.

The process will take six to eight weeks depending on variables such as age of the helicopter. Aircraft built before1987 will require more modifications, such as a main rotor mast upgrade, and any other recommended modifications the customer chooses.

“We believe that with the new engine installed, with these modifications the increase to the max takeoff weight and the boost to in- and out-of-ground effect hover, it actually adds more than the cost of the modifications,” O’Shea told AIN. “It depends on the year of manufacture but if you think about the hours that people intend to run a 350 and amortize the $800,000, it adds more than 10 years to it.”

Here at Heli-Expo, Vector Aerospace (Booth 3212) is displaying its new direct primary fuel tank replacement for the AS350, developed in cooperation with Robertson Fuel Systems. In addition to incorporating the latest safety improvements, the aftermarket tank’s capacity is increased to 150 from 146 gallons.

As part of its full aircraft coverage commitment for the AS350, the company has earned FAA and Transport Canada authorization to conduct 12-year inspections on the type and recently completed three such examinations including two for Reno, Nev.-based Air Methods affiliate CareFlight. Another is scheduled for this month. Vector just announced an agreement with Air Methods itself, which will make it the primary supplier for all the aeromedical transport provider’s AS350 and EC130 dynamic components.

Not limited to servicing Airbus Helicopter products, the MRO provider announced it has signed a five-year agreement with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for the upkeep of its fleet of not only AS350s, but UH-1Hs. In continuance of its four-year relationship with the Royal Thai Navy, Vector will begin its third complete airframe refurbishment of one of its S-76Bs. A separate multi-year agreement will see the Canadian company provide maintenance support for the Columbian air force’s Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T and JT15D engines.