Enstrom Delivers First New-Build 480B to South Africa

Enstrom Helicopter has delivered a new 480B turbine helicopter to South Africa’s authorized distributor Safomar Aviation, marking its first commercial aircraft delivery since resuming production and reinforcing its African distribution network.

The Enstrom 480B is a light single-engine turbine helicopter certified for utility, training, law enforcement, and military missions. Powered by a Rolls-Royce 250-series engine, the helicopter has become one of Enstrom’s flagship turbine models, combining a three-blade rotor system, high useful load, and excellent visibility for a wide range of commercial and government applications.

MENOMINEE, Michigan — Enstrom Helicopter Corporation has delivered a new Enstrom 480B turbine helicopter to Safomar Aviation, its longtime authorized distributor for South Africa and much of Sub-Saharan Africa. The delivery marks Enstrom’s first commercial aircraft delivered since the company resumed production.

The companies said the delivery represents another milestone in their longstanding partnership, which has supported commercial, military, and private helicopter operators throughout the African region for many years.

In addition to aircraft sales, Safomar provides maintenance services and customer support, allowing operators to access local technical expertise throughout the operational life of their aircraft.

Chuck Wade, Senior Vice President of Product, Sales and Customer Excellence at Enstrom Helicopter, said the delivery represents both the strength of the partnership with Safomar and an important milestone for Enstrom as it resumes commercial aircraft production while continuing to support commercial and military customers worldwide.

Shai Shalem, Founder and CEO of Safomar Group, described the relationship between the two companies as being built on trust, collaboration, customer support, and a shared commitment to safety, adding that both organizations aim to further expand the African market using Enstrom’s helicopter portfolio.

Following its arrival in South Africa, the helicopter will be used by Safomar to demonstrate the capabilities of the Enstrom 480B to prospective operators while supporting customer engagement across the region.

Enstrom said additional announcements will follow after the aircraft enters service in South Africa, highlighting its operational introduction and the companies’ continued cooperation in supporting operators throughout Africa.

About Enstrom : Enstrom Helicopter Corporation, headquartered in Menominee, Michigan, designs, manufactures, and supports light helicopters for military, law enforcement, commercial, training, and private operators. Built in the United States, Enstrom aircraft operate in more than 50 countries and are supported through a worldwide network of parts, service, and technical support.

About Safomar : Safomar Aviation is a South African aerospace company founded in 1987 and headquartered in Modderfontein. The company supports commercial, military, corporate, and general aviation operators across Sub-Saharan Africa through aircraft sales and leasing, maintenance, flight training, logistics, and technical support for both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.