Heli-Parts Nevada (HPN), sister company of Oceania Aviation, has taken delivery of an initial ten Airbus helicopters owned by global air medical services provider Air Methods Corporation. The aircraft, which consist of nine AS350s (ranging from B2 to B3 and B3+) and one EC130, are currently being assessed and inspected by HPN’s specialist MRO team as part of the Salus Aviation group’s recently finalised fleet management agreement with Air Methods. The agreement facilitates HPN to assess, refurbish and divest of AMC’s legacy aircraft and inventory in order to help the EMS provider renew their fleet.

Three of the ten initial aircraft, including the EC130, will be parted out based on particular module requirements from Air Methods. The other seven AS350s are now for sale or being prepared to sell to the global market, with three immediately available for prospective buyers and the others currently being prepared for short turnaround. All aircraft are being made available with a range of configuration options, from “as-is” in their current EMS configuration, to “green” with paint stripped/primed and back wall and seats reinstated, or “fully reconfigured” to support the specific mission requirements of their potential new owners.

Salus Aviation’s New Zealand-based subsidiary Oceania Aviation is managing the aircraft sales on behalf of the group, having over 25 years of aircraft sales experience and with team members based in the USA, Australia and New Zealand. Oceania is also offering reconfiguration and customisation options on all aircraft for sale, with their Helicopter Customisation hangar in Ardmore Airport able to facilitate a range of options from mission reconfigurations, to interior refurbishments, avionics refits and custom paint jobs. HPN is managing the components and parts sales from the parted out aircraft, already being the single largest provider of overhauled and used Airbus components and Safran engines for the industry globally.

This first aircraft delivery and divestment process marks a significant milestone for the Salus Aviation group and their partnership with Air Methods Corporation. As well as managing costs for the EMS provider, the partnership will continue to provide a steady supply of high quality (and reconfigurable) EMS aircraft to the global aviation industry. The agreement is a great opportunity for Oceania Aviation’s aircraft sales team, who will have a number of Airbus aircraft to sell within the local and global market as well as providing significant project work for their Helicopter Customisation hangar.