Airbus Helicopters claims 54% share of civil & parapublic market
Airbus Helicopters' DisruptiveLab flying laboratory made its first flight last year.
Airbus Helicopters is claiming a 54% share of the civil and parapublic helicopter market, after delivering 346 helicopters last year. The market is showing “steady market recovery” with strong performances for light twin and medium twin helicopters, it said. The manufacturer also reported 410 gross orders and 393 net, with orders from 179 customers in 47 countries.
Bruno Even, CEO, Airbus Helicopters said: “Airbus Helicopters’ order intake in 2023, with an increase bordering 10% in units in comparison to 2022, highlights its stable growth despite the ongoing global context of inflation and geopolitical instability.” The orders were testament to the versatility of Airbus products both in the civil and military markets, he added.
Commenting on the past year, Even highlighted the first flight of its DisruptiveLab flying laboratory. Based on a H130 platform, the helicopter is designed to test technologies intended to improve aircraft performance and to cut CO2 emissions. It claimed an industry first in successfully testing an electric flight control system that allowed for a single pilot stick to replace all three conventional pilot controls.
Working in partnership with Airbus UpNext, Airbus Helicopters also tested advanced autonomous features designed to simplify mission preparation and management, reduce pilot workload and increase safety.
“In the same way as the DisruptiveLab will be used to test hybridisation for single-engine helicopters, we unveiled the PioneerLab with the aim of testing hybridisation for twin-engine aircraft as well as introducing bio-based materials,” said Even. The company also started assembling the CityAirbus NextGen aircraft in Donauwörth, Germany.
Highlights from Airbus Helicopter’s military business included the first flight of the NH90 Sea Tiger, its anti-submarine warfare helicopter for the German Navy. Even also noted the Spanish Navy taking delivery of its first H135 helicopters.
Both civil and military clients continue to value Airbus’ global support contracts and HCare – its maintenance and repair offering for civil aircraft. Last year 140 new helicopters were covered by by-the-hour contracts bringing the total covered fleet to 2,760 aircraft.
Airbus’ 2023 full-year financial results will be posted on February 15th.
Meanwhile, watch out for our report about Even’s comments on the continued rise of super-medium helicopter and the manufacturer’s commitment to the heavy H225 aircraft.
Airbus Helicopters says it accounts for 54% of the civil and parapublic helicopter market.
