Schweizer has completed the first helicopter of its new OEM Certified Helicopters Programme. The completely refurbished S300CBi includes a new engine, blades, interior, paint, and low-time components. Priced below the cost of a new model, the ‘like new’ aircraft offers customers a more affordable option for ownership.
With the programme, Schweizer accepts older Schweizer aircraft, regardless of their airworthiness, for intensive inspections, repairs, and component replacement. Customers can trade in their older Schweizers for either a discount equal to the value of the aircraft on a new helicopter or receive a percentage of their aircraft’s sale price when Schweizer sells it after it completes the programme.
Once at Schweizer, traded-in aircraft are evaluated and moved into one of two categories in the OEM Certified Helicopters Programme – OEM Certified Refreshed Helicopters or OEM Certified Refurbished Helicopters.
OEM Certified Refreshed Helicopters Refreshed helicopters are relatively low-time aircraft requiring few repairs and/or part replacements. These aircraft undergo an intensive OEM inspection. Parts and components needing replacement or nearing their life limitation are replaced, and full 400-hour, 800-hour, annual, and 24-month inspections are conducted. The aircraft are also professionally detailed inside and out, with blemishes repaired. Each OEM Certified Refreshed Helicopter comes with a 1-year/1,000-hour warranty on parts replaced or repaired by Schweizer and can be customised to the customer’s specifications before leaving the factory.OEM Certified Refurbished HelicoptersOEM Certified Refurbished Helicopters receive a much deeper inspection, repair, and replacement process. These aircraft receive new or overhauled engines, new blades, and component replacements where needed to ensure overall low-time components, a completely new interior, and fresh paint. Avionics are entirely customisable to a customer’s request. The aircraft also undergo full 400-hour, 800-hour, annual and 24-month inspections. Like refreshed helicopters, refurbished helicopters come with a 1-year/1,000-hour warranty on parts replaced or repaired by Schweizer.
“The former owners of the Schweizer brand did not maintain parts availability, leaving a number of aircraft to be cannibalised,” said Schweizer President and CEO David Horton. “We created our new OEM Certified Helicopters Programme to help bring the fleet back to life and provide a more affordable way for customers to get into helicopter ownership or upgrade to a new helicopter.”
