Sabena Aerospace and Blue Aerospace to Re-market Assets

The Belgian government has disposed of the entirety of its C-130 fleet, to include aircraft, engines, propellers, spare parts and ground support equipment, as the nation’s military transforms all relevant operations to the A400M fleet. Sabena Aerospace (a Blueberry company) and Blue Aerospace (a HEICO company) announced on 29 July that they have been awarded the sale of these assets.

“The award will guarantee Sabena Aerospace with continued work for its C130 maintenance line in Belgium, as the Belgian Air Force moves operations to the A400 fleet. This will also provide the [Belgian] economy with a tangible return and allow Sabena Aerospace to expand its end-to-end C130 maintenance offering to new or existing C130 operators […] we see this as the beginning of an expanding and long-term relationship [with Blue Aerospace] that will lead to other platforms and projects under the newly-created Blueberry company,” commented Blueberry President and Sabena Aerospace CEO, Stéphane Burton.

“This purchase will further accelerate HEICO’s continued growth in the defense sustainment market, as we make the assets available for resale to end users worldwide,” added Eric Mendelson, Co-President of HEICO Corporation and President & CEO of HEICO Flight Support Group.

MON sister publication The World Defence Almanac 2019 shows the total number of C-130H previously operated by the Belgian Air Component as standing at ten, which are being replaced by a total of seven A400M airlifters.