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European helicopter maker highlights global presence, including SA

12th August 2016

By: Keith Campbell

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

  

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Airbus Helicopters (formerly Eurocopter and part of the larger Airbus Group) is confident that it has a unique global presence. The company recently pointed out it that had 22 900 employees worldwide, with 29 customer centres, 26 training centres and 100 maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centres. With a turnover of €6.8-billion last year, its machines were flown by 3 010 operators in 149 countries.

One of its subsidiaries is Airbus Helicopters Southern Africa, which, despite its name, actually covers most of sub-Saharan Africa. It undertakes sales, marketing and related services in the region, carries out helicopter reassembly and customisation, and does MRO of Airbus Helicopters’ machines. It also provides logistics support, technical publications and pilot and maintenance training. Its main facility is at Grand Central Airport, halfway between Johannesburg and Pretoria, but it also has an AS332 helicopter flight simulator located near OR Tambo International Airport, in Kempton Park, east of Johannesburg.

Returning to parent company Airbus Helicopters, its main facilities are in France and Germany (at Marignane and Donauwörth respectively). In 2015, its turnover was equally divided between the civil and military sectors. Support and services accounted for 47% of turnover and helicopter sales for 53%, while exports provided 70% and the domestic (European) market 30%. It has sold a total of 11 930 helicopters and of their 3 010 operators, 85% operate less than five machines each.

The company divides its civil range into single-engined helicopters, light twin-engined machines, medium twin-engined aircraft and medium/heavy helicopters. The single-engined types are the H120, the H125 (better known as the Squirrel) and the H130. Its light twins are the AS355 (the Twin Squirrel), the H135 and the H145. The medium twins are the AS365 (better known as the Dauphin), the H155 and the H175. The medium/heavy types are the AS332 (the Super Puma) and the H225. These aircraft are able to carry out a wide range of missions, such as aerial support work, emergency medical services, law enforcement, private and business aviation, offshore transport (for the oil and gas sector) and search and rescue (SAR).

Its military range is divided into light helicopters, mean weight helicopters, mean/heavy weight helicopters and special helicopters. The light helicopters are the H125M, the H135M and the H645M. The mean weight class machine is the AS565, while the mean/heavyweight types are the AS532 (Cougar) and H225M (Caracal). The special category contains two helicopters, one of which is the Tiger reconnaissance/scout/escort/attack helicopter. The second type in this category is the NH90, which was designed, developed and is produced by NH Industries (NHI) – Airbus Helicopters holds 62.5% of NHI. (The remaining shareholders are Leonardo Helicopters, formerly AgustaWestland, with 32% and Fokker with 5.5%). Between them, these machines can execute antitank, attack, casualty evacuation, naval, SAR (including combat SAR) and tactical airlift missions.

The Airbus Helicopters plant at Donauwörth contains both civil and military assembly facilities, a civil maintenance centre, a competence centre for composites, a customer centre, a development centre, a military support centre, a training academy and a training workshop. It also includes a facility to manufacture airliner doors for sister company Airbus.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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