MRO & Manufacturing
Niagara Helicopters Completes Fleet Upgrade with New Airbus H130s
Niagara Helicopters upgrades its fleet with four Airbus H130 helicopters, enhancing passenger experience and supporting local Canadian aerospace industry.
In the world of aerial tourism, providing an exceptional passenger experience while maintaining a good relationship with the local community is a balancing act. For an operation like Niagara Helicopters, which has been offering breathtaking views of one of the world’s natural wonders for over six decades, this balance is crucial. The recent completion of their fleet modernization with four new Airbus H130 helicopters marks a significant milestone, not just for the company, but for the regional aerospace and tourism industries. This move underscores a commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance sightseeing tours over the iconic Niagara Falls.
The partnership between Niagara Helicopters and Airbus Helicopters Canada is a story of local collaboration. With Airbus’s Canadian headquarters and primary manufacturing facility located in Fort Erie, Ontario, a short distance from the falls, this fleet renewal carries a distinct “Made in Niagara” seal. This proximity fosters a unique synergy, allowing for seamless support and a shared pride in Canadian aviation. The decision to upgrade the fleet with the H130, a helicopter renowned for its suitability in tourism roles, reflects a strategic investment in the future, aligning with growing global trends toward more sustainable and passenger-focused travel experiences.
The selection of the Airbus H130 was a deliberate one, driven by the specific needs of operating in a sensitive and popular tourist area. Niagara Helicopters required an aircraft that excelled in several key areas: passenger visibility, cabin comfort, and a low noise profile. The H130 checks all these boxes, making it a benchmark for tourism operations worldwide. Its spacious, open-plan cabin can accommodate up to seven passengers and a pilot, offering panoramic views through large windows, ensuring every seat is a good one. This is a critical feature when the main attraction is the sprawling vista of the Horseshoe, American, and Bridal Veil Falls.
Beyond the views, the H130 is engineered for a superior passenger experience. It incorporates an active vibration control system, which results in a smoother and more comfortable flight. For pilots, the modern glass cockpit and advanced avionics enhance situational awareness and operational safety. However, one of its most lauded features is the Fenestron shrouded tail rotor. This design significantly reduces external noise, making the H130 one of the quietest helicopters in its class. This is not just a comfort feature; it’s a crucial component of responsible tourism, minimizing the acoustic impact on the surrounding environment and residential areas.
The performance specifications of the H130 further solidify its suitability for the role. Powered by a single Safran Arriel 2D turboshaft engine, it boasts a fast cruise speed of 128 knots and a range of approximately 327 nautical miles. While the nine-minute, 27-kilometer tour over Niagara Falls doesn’t push these limits, the aircraft’s power and reliability are essential for maintaining a high tempo of operations, especially during peak tourist season when the company flies over 100,000 passengers annually.
“We needed a machine that had great visibility, smoothness, and quiet operation, definitely quiet for our community as well. There’s just no other helicopter in its class that actually checks all the boxes.” – Anna Pierce, Vice President and General Manager for Niagara Helicopters.
The relationship between Niagara Helicopters and Airbus Helicopters Canada is a testament to the benefits of local industry collaboration. Established in 1984, the Airbus facility in Fort Erie is a cornerstone of the Canadian aerospace sector, employing nearly 250 people. It serves as a center of excellence for composite manufacturing, supplying parts for various helicopter models in the Airbus range. This local presence means that support and expertise are just a short drive away for Niagara Helicopters, a significant operational advantage.
This fleet modernization is the continuation of a partnership that began around a decade ago when Niagara Helicopters first started transitioning to Airbus aircraft. The journey to the current all-H130 fleet has been gradual, reflecting a long-term strategy. The company’s history of fleet upgrades dates back decades, from the Bell 206 JetRanger in the 1980s to the Bell 407 in 1996, and finally, the move to the H130 starting in June 2015. This latest acquisition of four new helicopters marks the culmination of a renewal process that was formally announced in February 2024.
This local-for-local dynamic strengthens both the regional aerospace and tourism economies. The success of Niagara Helicopters directly supports high-skilled jobs at the Fort Erie plant, while the advanced, locally-completed aircraft enhance the appeal of Niagara Falls as a premier tourist destination. It’s a symbiotic relationship that showcases Canadian manufacturing and tourism on a global stage, built on a foundation of trust and shared objectives. The completion of Niagara Helicopters’ fleet modernization with new Airbus H130s is more than just a corporate acquisition; it represents a strategic alignment with the future of tourism. As travelers increasingly seek unique, high-quality experiences, operators must invest in technology that delivers on comfort, safety, and environmental responsibility. The H130, with its panoramic views, smooth ride, and quiet operation, is perfectly suited to meet these evolving demands. This move positions Niagara Helicopters to maintain its status as a leading attraction in a highly competitive market.
Looking ahead, this partnership also highlights a broader trend in the aviation and tourism industries. The emphasis on quieter, more eco-conscious aircraft will likely become the standard, especially in protected natural areas. The global helicopter tourism market is on a growth trajectory, and operators who prioritize sustainability and passenger experience will be best positioned for success. The collaboration between Niagara Helicopters and Airbus is a prime example of how local partnerships can drive innovation and set new benchmarks for an entire industry.
Question: What aircraft did Niagara Helicopters add to its fleet? Question: Why is the Airbus H130 a good choice for tourism? Question: What is the significance of the partnership between Niagara Helicopters and Airbus? Sources: Airbus
Niagara Helicopters and Airbus: A Modernization Story Made in Niagara
The Aircraft of Choice: The Airbus H130
A Partnership Forged in Proximity and Performance
Conclusion: Flying into the Future
FAQ
Answer: Niagara Helicopters completed its fleet modernization with the addition of four new Airbus H130 helicopters.
Answer: The H130 is considered ideal for tourism due to its spacious cabin with excellent panoramic visibility for all passengers, a low noise footprint thanks to its Fenestron shrouded tail rotor, and an active vibration control system for a smoother, more comfortable flight.
Answer: The partnership is a strong example of local collaboration, as the helicopters are completed at the Airbus facility in Fort Erie, Ontario, very close to Niagara Helicopters’ base of operations. This “Made in Niagara” aspect supports the regional economy and ensures close support for the fleet.
Sources
Photo Credit: Airbus
MRO & Manufacturing
Bombardier Acquires Velocity Maintenance Solutions to Expand US Service Network
Bombardier acquires Velocity Maintenance Solutions, adding a Delaware facility and mobile repair units to enhance its U.S. aftermarket services.
On February 9, 2026, Bombardier announced the acquisition of Velocity Maintenance Solutions, a specialized provider of maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services based in Wilmington, Delaware. The transaction, executed through Bombardier’s U.S. subsidiary Learjet Inc., represents a strategic expansion of the manufacturer’s aftermarket footprint in the high-traffic Northeast corridor.
The acquisition provides Bombardier with immediate access to a 35,000-square-foot facility at New Castle Airport (ILG) and a fleet of mobile repair units designed for rapid response. While financial terms of the deal remain confidential, the move aligns with the company’s stated objective to grow its services revenue and secure a stronger domestic presence in the United States.
According to the company’s official statement, the acquisition is designed to bolster support for Bombardier’s growing fleet of business jets, including the ultra-long-range Global 8000. By integrating Velocity Maintenance Solutions, Bombardier aims to capture more of the lifecycle maintenance market, a sector that offers stable margins compared to the cyclical nature of aircraft sales.
The deal includes significant physical and operational assets that will be integrated into Bombardier’s service network:
Paul Sislian, Executive Vice President of Bombardier Aftermarket Services, highlighted the cultural fit between the two organizations in the press release.
“Velocity Maintenance Solutions’ capabilities and customer-focused culture make it an excellent fit for Bombardier… This acquisition is part of our commitment to continually elevate our service standards.”
Velocity Maintenance Solutions has established itself as an agile player in the MRO space since its emergence around 2021. As an FAA Part 145 Repair Station, the company is authorized to perform scheduled maintenance, structural repairs, and avionics upgrades.
Prior to the acquisition, Velocity serviced a diverse range of aircraft, including models from Embraer, Dassault Falcon, Gulfstream, and Textron, in addition to Bombardier jets. The facility is known for its 24/7 emergency support capabilities, a critical service for business jet operators requiring immediate dispatch reliability.
This acquisition arrives during a complex period for the aerospace industry, characterized by both consolidation and geopolitical friction. By executing the purchase through Learjet Inc., a heritage U.S. brand based in Wichita, Kansas, Bombardier reinforces its status as a significant U.S. employer. This distinction is increasingly vital as the company navigates trade tensions, including recent tariff threats from the U.S. administration regarding Canadian aerospace products.
Expanding physical infrastructure within the United States serves a dual purpose: it insulates the company’s service supply chain from potential cross-border friction and strengthens its eligibility for U.S. defense contracts. Furthermore, in an industry facing a chronic shortage of skilled labor, acquiring a “turnkey” operation with a certified workforce allows Bombardier to bypass the long lead times associated with recruiting and training new technicians. The location in Wilmington also places Bombardier in direct competition with other major service providers at New Castle Airport, including a Dassault Falcon service center, signaling an aggressive push to dominate the Northeast service market.
The acquisition was made by Learjet Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of Bombardier.
The existing team of technicians and support staff at Velocity Maintenance Solutions will be retained and integrated into Bombardier’s workforce.
While the press release emphasizes support for Bombardier’s fleet, Velocity has historically serviced various manufacturers. OEMs often honor existing third-party contracts during transition periods, though the long-term focus typically shifts to the parent company’s products.
Bombardier Acquires Velocity Maintenance Solutions to Densify U.S. Service Network
Expanding the Aftermarket Ecosystem
Target Profile: Velocity Maintenance Solutions
AirPro News Analysis: Strategic and Political Context
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the acquiring entity?
What happens to the current workforce?
Will Velocity continue to service non-Bombardier aircraft?
Sources
Photo Credit: Velocity Maintenance Solutions
MRO & Manufacturing
Satair and Joramco Extend 25-Year Partnership at MRO Middle East 2026
Satair and Joramco renew their 25-year supply agreement at MRO Middle East 2026, supporting Joramco’s maintenance operations and new contracts.
This article is based on an official press release from Satair and additional industry reporting regarding MRO Middle East 2026.
At the MRO Middle East 2026 exhibition in Dubai, Satair, an Airbus Services company, and Joramco (Jordan Aircraft Maintenance Limited) officially announced the renewal of their long-standing Consumables and Expendables Supply Agreement. The deal marks the continuation of a strategic partnership that has spanned more than a quarter of a century, reinforcing the critical role of integrated supply chains in the growing Middle Eastern aviation maintenance sector.
According to the announcement, the renewed agreement is designed to secure a consistent flow of essential spare parts for Joramco’s base maintenance operations in Amman, Jordan. By locking in this supply chain solution, Joramco aims to minimize “Aircraft on Ground” (AOG) risks and reduce the complexity of material management for its expanding customer base.
The partnership between Satair and Joramco is one of the most enduring in the region. For over 25 years, Satair has served as a primary provider of consumables and expendables, high-volume, low-cost parts essential for routine maintenance, to the Jordan-based MRO provider.
In the official release, the companies highlighted the operational benefits of the extension. The agreement allows Joramco to leverage Satair’s global distribution network, ensuring that parts are available precisely when needed. This “just-in-time” capability is vital for MROs (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul providers) striving to offer competitive turnaround times to airlines.
A primary focus of the renewal is the mitigation of supply chain disruptions. By outsourcing the management of consumables to Satair, Joramco can focus its internal resources on heavy maintenance and engineering tasks rather than logistics. The agreement reportedly covers a comprehensive range of Airbus and Boeing fleet requirements, aligning with Joramco’s diverse capabilities.
“This continued partnership with Satair ensures we have the right parts at the right time, allowing us to deliver superior turnaround times to our global customers.”
, Statement attributed to Joramco leadership regarding the renewal
The renewal comes amidst a flurry of activity at MRO Middle East 2026, where both companies have announced significant independent expansions. The event, held on February 4–5, 2026, has served as a platform for major industry shifts in the region. According to industry reporting from the event, Joramco has also secured a major five-year heavy maintenance agreement with the German leisure carrier Condor. This deal will see Joramco performing base maintenance on Condor’s entire Airbus fleet, including the A320ceo, A320neo, and A330neo. Additionally, Joramco celebrated the first graduates of its Structured On-the-Job Training (SOJT) program, a move aimed at addressing the global shortage of skilled aviation technicians.
Simultaneously, Satair has expanded its footprint in the sustainability sector. Reports from the event indicate Satair signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GAMECO (Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Co.) to enter the Used Serviceable Material (USM) market, addressing the rising demand for cost-effective and sustainable parts solutions.
The renewal of the Satair-Joramco agreement highlights a critical trend in the post-2025 aviation landscape: the prioritization of supply chain resilience. In an era where global parts shortages have frequently grounded fleets, MRO providers are increasingly moving toward long-term, integrated agreements with major distributors rather than relying on spot-market purchasing.
Furthermore, the Middle East’s trajectory as a global MRO hub is evident in these announcements. Joramco’s ability to secure European contracts like the Condor deal, backed by a robust supply chain from Satair, suggests that regional players are successfully competing on a global scale by combining geographic advantages with high-grade logistical reliability.
Satair and Joramco Extend 25-Year Supply Chain Partnership at MRO Middle East 2026
Strengthening a Quarter-Century Alliance
Operational Efficiency and AOG Reduction
Broader Context: MRO Middle East 2026 Developments
AirPro News Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
Photo Credit: Satair
MRO & Manufacturing
Joramco Renews Maintenance Agreement with mas Cargo Airline for 2026
Joramco extends its maintenance contract with Mexican cargo airline mas for heavy checks on Airbus A330 freighters throughout 2026 at its Amman facility.
This article is based on an official press release from Joramco.
Joramco, the Amman-based aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility and engineering arm of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), has officially announced the renewal of its maintenance agreement with mas (formerly MasAir), a prominent Mexican cargo airline. The agreement was finalized and signed during the MRO Middle East 2026 exhibition in Dubai, marking a continuation of the strategic partnership between the two entities.
Under the terms of the renewed contract, Joramco will perform heavy base maintenance checks on the mas fleet of Airbus A330 freighters. The work is scheduled to take place throughout 2026 at Joramco’s facility at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan. This announcement underscores the MRO provider’s increasing traction in the global cargo sector and its ability to secure recurring business from international carriers outside its traditional regional stronghold.
According to the company’s announcement, the new deal focuses specifically on heavy base maintenance, often referred to as C-checks, for the carrier’s Airbus A330 fleet. These checks are critical for ensuring the continued airworthiness and operational reliability of the freighter aircraft, which are essential to mas’s global logistics network.
This renewal follows a successful initial collaboration established relatively recently. Joramco and mas first formalized their partnerships in October 2025 at the MRO Europe exhibition in London. That initial agreement covered maintenance checks that began in December 2025. The rapid renewal, signed just four months later, suggests a successful execution of the initial checks and a deepening of the business relationship.
In a statement regarding the renewal, Joramco’s leadership highlighted the significance of the repeat business.
“We are pleased to welcome more aircraft from mas at Joramco. This agreement reaffirms Joramco’s position as a trusted Global MRO provider of choice.”
, Adam Voss, CEO of Joramco
The agreement with mas aligns with Joramco’s broader strategy to expand its global footprint. By securing a renewal with a Latin American carrier, the Jordan-based MRO is demonstrating its competitiveness on a global scale, attracting airframes from the Americas to the Middle-East for heavy maintenance. The timing of this renewal is notable within the wider context of the MRO industry’s capacity constraints. In late 2025, Joramco inaugurated “Hangar 7,” a significant infrastructure expansion that reportedly increased its capacity to 22 parallel maintenance lines. This expansion appears to be paying dividends, allowing the facility to accommodate the “more aircraft” referenced by CEO Adam Voss.
Furthermore, the cargo market remains a demanding sector requiring high asset utilization. For a specialized Cargo-Aircraft airline like mas, which operates a modernizing fleet of Airbus A330 Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) aircraft, securing reliable MRO slots is a strategic priority. The quick transition from an initial contract in late 2025 to a full-year renewal for 2026 indicates that Joramco has successfully met the technical and turnaround time requirements demanded by the cargo carrier.
Joramco: A subsidiary of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), Joramco has operated for over 60 years. Based in Amman, Jordan, it provides airframe maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer aircraft.
mas: Headquartered in Mexico City, mas (formerly MasAir) is a specialized cargo airline operating scheduled and charter freight services across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The airline has been actively expanding its capacity with Airbus A330 freighters to support its international network.
Sources:
Joramco Extends Maintenance Partnership with mas Cargo Airline for 2026
Scope of the Renewed Agreement
Strategic Context and Capacity Expansion
AirPro News Analysis
About the Companies
Photo Credit: Joramco
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