Safran Helicopter Engines and Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC) announced today their exclusive partnership to power the R88. This new helicopter will be equipped with the 950 shp power class Arriel 2W, the newest variant of the Arriel family.

By choosing the Arriel, Robinson Helicopter Company has selected the benchmark engine in the light helicopter market. With more than 66 million flight hours, the Arriel family has proven its performance and durability. Every day, all over the world, Arriel engines power helicopters for demanding missions, particularly in the fields of EMS, rescue operations, and population protection.

Robinson Helicopter Company customers will also benefit from Safran Helicopter Engines’ worldwide support network, which ensures customer proximity and delivers a streamlined, high-performance MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) service.

For the first time, an airframe manufacturer is furthermore investing in engine services included from day 1 of the aircraft acquisition, to ensure operators receive a high level of support directly with Safran Helicopter Engines. At aircraft delivery, customers will automatically benefit from a Serenity package featuring services, such as unscheduled maintenance for 5 years or 2,000 flying hours, Premium Health Monitoring and advanced digital services.

Cédric Goubet, CEO of Safran Helicopter Engines, said: “At Safran Helicopter Engines, we are proud to establish this first-ever partnership with Robinson Helicopter Company. With the Arriel 2W, the new R88 helicopter obtains the best propulsion solution in its power range. We are thrilled to embark on this new journey with Robinson Helicopter Company, and we are confident that the R88 will achieve great success in the light, single-engine helicopter market.”

David Smith, President and CEO of Robinson Helicopter Company, said: “Robinson has selected Safran’s Arriel 2W for our largest and most capable helicopter due to their unparalleled performance and proven reliability. The inclusion of the Serenity package provides our customers with the peace of mind they deserve, further solidifying our commitment to delivering the highest levels of safety and dependability.”

The Arriel is Safran’s best-selling helicopter engine family, with more than 15,500 units produced for over 40 different helicopter types. The Arriel engine has earned a high level of trust from helicopter operators and has become the No. 1 reference for powering light helicopters. In terms of reliability, durability and operability, the Arriel is an industry benchmark. Every 15 seconds, somewhere in the world, a helicopter powered by an Arriel engine takes off.

Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 100,000 employees and sales of 27.3 billion euros in 2024, and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets.
Safran is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange and is part of the CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 indices.

Safran Helicopter Engines is the world’s leading manufacturer of helicopter engines, with more than 75,000 produced since being founded. It offers the widest range of helicopter turboshafts in the world and has more than 2,500 customers in 155 countries.

Source : Safran