30 November, 2018: Airbus Helicopters is expanding in Japan with the addition of a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) complex nearby its existing facility in the Kobe Airport Facility in Japan.
The company’s existing facility is capable of housing up to 25 medium-sized helicopters at the same time. It also accommodates its regional engineering hub and the country’s first and only helicopter full motion full-flight simulator, which has trained over 500 pilots and engineers in Japan and across the region.
With this expansion, Airbus Helicopters will have the leading footprint in the aviation business sector of the Kobe Airport Facility, occupying a total space of 19,685 sqm. Its overall capacity will increase by 60 percent to handle about 40 medium-sized helicopters at one time. The new building will feature a state-of-the-art hangar, an administration office, and a purpose-built warehouse.
“Japan is an important market for Airbus Helicopters. This additional facility is part of our growth plan in the country and demonstrates our commitment to strengthening our support for our customers’ fleets while responding to their increasing demand for aftersale support services,” said Olivier Tillier, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters Japan. “We have been building up our capabilities in Kobe over the years and believe the site offers a lot of growth potential. With a larger capacity, we will be able to offer our complete suite of support and services to our customers, spanning after-sales customer support, MRO, engineering, technical support, simulator training and warehousing.”