The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has approved a time between overhaul (TBO) extension for the main gearbox (MGB) of the Airbus Helicopters H160.
The TBO for the MGB is now 3,000 flight hours — halfway towards the manufacturer’s ultimate goal of 6,000 flight hours.
In a statement announcing the extension, Airbus said it followed a rigorous technical evaluation, including three customer MGB inspections at 1,000 flight hours and successful 2,500-hour tests on the “dynamic helicopter zero” test cell and multipurpose test benches.
Airbus believes the extension will enhance the medium-lift aircraft’s competitiveness, thanks to the improvement to direct maintenance costs for operators.
The manufacturer said the process used a new testing standard involving test benches and in-service data, which will serve as a model for future aircraft programs.
Airbus hopes to achieve validation from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the second half of 2026.
