Scandinavian Helicopter Logistics Alliance

Scandinavian Helicopter Logistics Alliance Sweden's AerotechTelub, Danish Aerotech in Denmark and Norway's Astec Helicopter Services have signed a Memorandum of Agreement to form a joint venture to develop a highly efficient international logistics support organization for defence helicopters. The armed forces of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden are planning to jointly purchase more than 70 helicopters under the Nordic Standard Helicopter Programme (NSHP), providing a basis for the development of a services-competitive Nordic resource operating in an expanding international market. The helicopters will operate in a variety of defence roles including troop transport, search and rescue and international peace keeping operations. Named the Nordic Support and Service Centre (NSSC), the new helicopter maintenance support resource will be created by three partners, each with a broad range of skills and capabilities in supporting and maintaining aircraft for many of the world's leading helicopter operators. In combination with the Nordic helicopter purchase plan, this opens interesting business opportunities for the new joint venture. NSSC will compete for support business corresponding to a significant proportion of the initial investment and the operating expenses. The objective of NSSC is to be competitive, partly by reducing these costs to the operator and partly by cutting down on helicopter downtime for maintenance, improving aircraft availability and operational readiness for the operator. AerotechTelub has many years of experience from technical services and maintenance on rotary and fixed wing aircraft including airframes and aircraft components. The origin of Danish Aerotech was a Danish Air Force aircraft maintenance facility, also with long traditions in fixed and rotary wing aircraft maintenance. Astec Helicopter Services was formed from the technical division of CHC Helikopter Service, which developed a comprehensive range of efficient maintenance services including integrated logistics support (ILS) to commercial operators worldwide, based on its own helicopter operator experience. The locations of the joint venture and the different maintenance operations will be determined through discussion with the customers and helicopter manufacturers involved. AerotechTelub is a service company which offers qualified technical services and customer-adapted system solutions within information technology, electronics and aviation technology for the military and civil defence, government departments and public authorities as well as selected sectors of trade and industry. AerotechTelub has 2,600 employees and a turnover of ca SEK 2,4 billion. AerotechTelub is jointly owned by Saab, (57 %), one of the world´s leading high-technology companies, and the IT company TietoEnator (43 %). Astec Helicopter Services AS in a wholly owned subsidiary of CHC Helicopter Corporation, of Newfoundland, Canada, a leading international helicopter group. CHC's subsidiaries and investments represent a fleet of more than 300 aircraft and 2,500 employees operating in 21 countries. Astec, formed recently from the technical division of helicopter operator CHC Helikopter Service in Stavanger, Norway, employs a workforce of 320 with annual sales at about NOK 800 million. Danish Aerotech A/S was founded in 1992 in the privatisation of the main aircraft workshops of the Royal Danish Air Force. Danish Aerotech has a turnover of DKK 80 Million and a workforce of 80. Danish Aerotech designs, manufactures and supports Modular Quick-Change solutions for aircraft and helicopters, which can change the configuration and thereby provide the operator with role flexibility. Danish Aerotech performs preventive and corrective maintenance from line to depot level on military and civil aircraft and helicopters. Danish Aerotech is experienced in working close together with the Royal Danish Air Force on servicing their trainer aircraft. Danish Aerotech manufactures and maintains components and equipment for aircraft and helicopters, including AWACS, F-16, LYNX and Sea King. For further information please contact AerotechTelub AB Ingvar Carlson, Commercial Manager tel: +46 1323 1366 e-mail: ingvar.carlson@aerotechtelub.se Astec Helicopter Services AS Kjell Johannessen, Commercial Director tel: +47 5194 1324 e-mail: kjohanne@hesgrp.com Danish Aerotech AS Søren E. Petersen, Managing Director tel: +45 9962 6200 e-mail: soren.petersen@aerotech.dk ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/04/10/20010410BIT00720/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/04/10/20010410BIT00720/bit0002.pdf