POLICE DEPARTMENT
October 6, 2022
TO: GEORGEANNE WHITE, City Manager
Office of the City Manager
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FROM: PACO BALDERRAMA, Chief of Police .
Office of the Chief
SUBJECT: FIND SAFRAN HELICOPTER ENGINES UNIQUELY QUALi FiFED TO
PROVIDE SUPPORT BY THE HOUR SERVICES TO THE FRESNO
POLICE DEPARTMENT AIR SUPPORT UNIT
Safran Helicopter Engines USA, Inc is a subsidiary of the Safran Group that specializes in the design, production, sale, and support of gas-powered turbine engines for helicopters. Specifically, Safran Helicopter Engines manufactures and provides service support for the Arrius 2F engine, which powers the EC 120 Calibri helicopters currently being used by the Fresno Police Department's Air Support Unit.
Engine service repair and overhaul generally account for a substantial portion of our aircraft maintenance budget. Time life components and engine inspection requirements are based on hours flown on the engine and can generally be forecasted to determine a timeline for repair, which is commonly referred to as scheduled maintenance.
Unscheduled maintenance occurs when an unexpected problem with the aircraft requires an inspection, repair, or service. Unscheduled maintenance of the engine may also occur if an Airworthy Directive (AD) related to the engine is disseminated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Whether maintenance of the engine is scheduled or unscheduled, the aircraft is grounded until the inspection, repair, or service has been complete and the aircraft is deemed airworthy. This frequently requires the engine to be removed from the aircraft and shipped to Safran for repair. Safran will complete the necessary repair, inspection or overhaul and ship the engine back to be re-installed in the aircraft. Absent another available engine, the aircraft will remain grounded until the repaired engine is re installed back into the aircraft.
In 2004, shortly after the acquisition of the EC 120 helicopters, the Fresno Police Department entered into an engine maintenance and support agreement with Safran, commonly referred to as "Support By the Hour" (SBH). The SBH program enables the Fresno Police Department to pay an hourly rate for each hour flown on the engine. The cost of engine overhauls and other valuable services are factored into the hourly rate.
We are afforded many extra benefits that new customers would not likely be afforded because they were included in our initial agreement. The number of hours flown on each engine is reported at the end of each month and we receive a monthly invoice for the service. The hourly cost of the service normally increases three percent at the beginning of each calendar year. Although, there was a one percent increase in 2021 and a two percent increase in 2022. The current hourly rate is $230.53, and the monthly invoice will fluctuate based on the hours flown. The average monthly cost for fiscal year 2021 was $28,357.84.
Safran's Support By the Hour (SBH) allows the cost of an engine overhaul to be distributed monthly and there is no additional charge when an engine overhaul is due.
The approximate cost of an engine overhaul, absent the SBH agreement, is between $250,000 and $300,000. The Fresno Police Department and Safran share the freight cost of shipping the engine to and from Safran.
Safran's SBH provides a loaner engine during the engine overhaul, allowing the aircraft to be flown when it would otherwise be grounded. Additionally, Safran provides specialized tools and lubricants needed for an engine exchange at no cost. Safran's SBH covers the cost of shipping and testing of all engine oil samples between engine overhauls. Service support from Safran's production and maintenance experts is available when needed.
Safran manufactures, services, and overhauls the engine that is specific to our helicopter. There are no FAA-authorized Arrius 2 repair centers other than Safran within the United States today that can repair and/or overhaul both the engine and the Hydro-Mechanical Unit or the Fuel Control Unit. Safran serves as the sole source provider of this service.
Safran also provides the Support By the Hour maintenance and support agreement, which enhances the efficiency of the air support unit's operation and provides consistency to fiscal management of the unit. The Support By the Hour (SBH) agreement is a trademarked document and Safran is the sole source provider of this service. For these reasons, I am requesting Safran be deemed a uniquely qualified service support provider.
Approved ___ _ Not Approved __ _
City Manager Signature:________________
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