Helicopters SAF Group orders three Airbus H145 helicopters

French emergency medical service operator SAF Group has signed a purchase agreement for three H145 helicopters with manufacturer Airbus Helicopters. Just recently, the operator has taken delivery of its first H145 after ordering a first three aircraft in 2018 and 2020.

While the first delivered H145 will be used for EMS missions in Belgium, the three helicopters from this latest order will be operating out of the French cities of Montpellier, Grenoble and Valence. In the span of half a year, SAF will implement six new H145´s into its fleet.

This latest order underlines the companies´ appreciation for each other, as they have been working together for decades. SAF is one of the largest Airbus Helicopter operators in Europe with a fleet of 55 aircraft.

SAF CEO Tristan Serretta says: “Introducing six new H145s in France and Belgium in just twelve months is in line with our strategy to increase the capacity of the growing number of EMS services that place their trust in us. This increase of our positioning is made possible by the level of performance and the versatility of this successful helicopter. SAF is determined to help demonstrate, together with the heads of emergency services, that having the right performance and at the right cost is key to saving lives”.

Airbus Helicopters CEO, Bruno Even, added: “We are delighted that SAF has once again renewed its trust in Airbus Helicopters. This new contract highlights the lasting partnership between our two companies that has spanned more than two decades. The H145 is an ideal platform for EMS with the largest cabin in its class and unbeatable payload, it is capable of undertaking the most demanding missions. We are happy that the five bladed H145 is gaining momentum in France and playing a key role in the modernization of the EMS fleet in the country.”

When it comes to emergency medical service missions, SAF is one of the leading operators in France and Europe. The fleet consists of Super Puma, H125s, H135s and H145 helicopters. The new capabilities of the H145 will help SAF to further push its business.

The H145 helicopter family is a popular product. Since the announcement, Airbus has delivered more than 1470 airframes to customers around the world. The world-wide H145 fleet has accumulated more than six million flight hours.