Heli-One, the largest independent provider of helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, announced it is developing overhaul capability for the General Electric (GE) CT7 Hot Section at its Stavanger, Norway facility. Heli-One expects to begin offering this additional capability to customers in July 2016.

This introduction will mark an important milestone for the continued expansion of Heli-One’s capabilities with the CT7 engine, which is installed in the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter. This new capability will expand service options and decrease turn-around-times (TAT) for Heli-One customers who need CT7 engine Hot Section overhaul.

This new capability expands Heli-One’s range of service options on the S-92 aircraft and can reduce engine overhaul TAT by as much as 25% (market range is 25-30 days) with an estimated TAT of less than 20 days.

“Our team is excited to further expand our expertise of GE engines and the S-92 platform, and offer additional capabilities to our customers,” said Anthony DiNota, President, Heli-One. “The capability to overhaul the CT7 Hot Section not only saves customers costs over engine replacement, but it also minimizes aircraft downtime through significant reductions in TATs for engine overhauls.”

Heli-One has been performing replacement services of the Hot Section since the introduction of the S-92 in 2004 and the Stavanger facility currently supports a fleet of over 40 S-92 aircraft. GE has trained Heli-One technicians on this capability and Heli-One with the approval to carry out the repair at their Stavanger facility. Heli-One will offer release certificates from EASA, FAA, and TCCA.