The prestigious Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) has entrusted the major
inspection and retrofit of 20 Super Puma helicopters to Eurocopter.
Rotor Journal investigates this major metamorphosis.
On 17 February 2005, the RSNF sent the first of
20 aircraft to Marignane for layup.
After 15 years of
use, and faced with a changing international context,
the customer wisely decided to combine the major
inspection with a retrofit of the radio navigation/
communication system, and the adaptation of the
armament.
A first batch of aircraft have now been
delivered and the SPAé(1) has issued the majority of the
qualifications required to declare the new systems
ready for operation.
One of the transformed aircraft will perform a firing
demonstration.
Eighteen of the 20 helicopters have
undergone the same industrial process: transfer of the
helicopters by cargo airplane; layup in Marignane;
acceptance of the helicopters by the French Official
Authorities; return by airplane; re-assembly and
delivery in Jubail by the HFSI(2) team in charge of
the maintenance management.
The two other
Super Puma M1 version will be retrofitted by a
Eurocopter team in Saudi Arabia to enhance the availability
of the fleet.
An Adapted Structure
The structure created for the contract performance
offers four advantages: firstly, the customer is invited to
Marignane for long-term monitoring of the layup, which
is based on heightened communication; and, in addition
to the assignment of one officer to Marignane, a
monthly review with the liaison office in Paris provides
close surveillance of the program progress.
Secondly,
support from the other sectors (design office, flight
tests, purchasing) involved in the retrofit operations has
allowed the new systems to be mastered and qualified
in less than a year.
Thirdly, a team of four Saudi officers
is instructed in the maintenance techniques on the helicopter,
and this team is renewed each year. Finally, the
RSNF pilots and technicians are also trained by
Eurocopter instructors at the customer’s premises.
Such a personalized approach – tailored to meet the
customer’s requirements – will undoubtedly attract the
interest of other operators and armed forces!
