Rotortrade, building global MRO capacity for critical mission support

I joined Rotortrade in early 2020, attracted by the opportunity to support projects within a dynamic, international environment. From the very beginning, I was involved in supporting the entry into service of 10 H125 helicopters for The Helicopter Company (THC) in Saudi Arabia.

Shortly after, I took on the role of Project Manager and Key Account Manager, supporting THC in the acquisition, acceptance, and entry into service of additional helicopter types such as the H145, H160, and helicopters from other OEMs. One of the major milestones during that period was the launch of the HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Services) network in Saudi Arabia. Even if my contribution was a tiny part of a much larger mission, knowing that the program’s ultimate goal is to save lives remains very meaningful to me.

Tallard MRO success

In January 2024, I was appointed General Manager of Rotortrade’s first MRO center in Tallard (France). In less than two years, this project has been an intense and rewarding adventure filled with challenges and achievements. In 2025 alone, our MRO received, modified, and exported 27 helicopters. Customers from around the world came to our facility to accept their refurbished aircraft, and seeing their satisfaction with the final product remains one of my greatest professional rewards.

In just 20 months, the MRO in Tallard has grown from 3 to 25 employees, and one of the main challenges has been finding reliable and qualified people. As everyone in the industry knows, there is a growing shortage of maintenance technicians, especially B1.3 and B2 profiles, and this situation is expected to worsen in the coming years. One interesting approach could be to create a stronger network of collaboration between OEMs, operators and MROs, allowing personnel to be shared or rotated based on operational priorities. If not addressed properly, this shortage of skilled manpower could slow down the entire industry.

These challenges reminded me how much collaboration and strong relationships matter in our industry. Over the years, I’ve had the chance to connect with exceptional professionals within Airbus Helicopters, particularly in the Program, Quality, CSM, and CLM teams, as well as with other OEMs, suppliers, and operators worldwide

Over the years, I’ve collected many memorable moments, but one is still fresh in my mind: the acceptance flight of an ACH160 with Captain Gensse, flying over the pink salt lakes of Camargue with flamingos gliding below us.

Eros Sullini | General Manager – European Maintenance Centre