Page 31 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCOTBER 2017 Online Magazine

FEATURE ROTARY WING

have already been delivered. Airbus already has a 40 percent market share in the were acquired in 1985, with the new type.
Helicopters also sees potential demand of Chinese civil and para-public market and has The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department
600 light twin-engine helicopters over the recently started to promote the twin-engine placed an order for a single H215 in June.
next two decades in China. H215 in China. A countrywide demo-tour was The new rotorcraft is to be delivered in early
Earlier in May, Airbus Helicopters became completed in July, which saw the rotorcraft 2020, in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and
the first Western rotorcraft manufacturer to make demo flights in Zhuhai, Shenzhen Paralympic Games. The Tokyo Metropolitan
commence work on a final assembly line (FAL) and Lijiang, showcasing its capabilities Police Department is the first police fleet
in China, which is also a first for the company. for firefighting, power line missions, law to operate the H215 in Japan. Japan’s Coast
The new FAL is being constructed in Qingdao, enforcement, and passenger transportation. Guard has also ordered three more H225s,
located in Shandong Province, Eastern China “It is a pleasure for us to welcome the H215 increasing its total orders for the type to
and is expected to be ready by 2018. The for the first time in China, as we foresee a nine. The deliveries of the new helicopters
first helicopter assembled at the facility is very strong future for this helicopter in the will be completed by February 2020.
slated to roll-out in mid-2019. As per a June Chinese market,” said Marie Agnes Vève,
2016 framework agreement, the new FAL will GM of Airbus Helicopters China. “The H215 Full Throttle
assemble 100 H135s over a ten-year period. is perfectly suited to meet China’s growing Leonardo Helicopter Division is giving top
An annual capacity of 18 H135 helicopters demand for heavy helicopters as it prepares priority to the Asia-Pacific market and is
is envisaged at the start of operations. to build up its forest aerial surveillance and seeing increased demand across its offerings
The new facility will be jointly operated by firefighting capabilities.” Operators in China for (EMS) and Search and Rescue (SAR)
Airbus Helicopters with a majority share of already operate nearly 40 Super Puma helicopters. Leonardo helicopters have
51 percent share and the other partner being aircraft for roles from oil & gas operations to also proved popular with law enforcement
Qingdao United General Aviation Company aerial work and VIP transportation. agencies in the region, with a 40 percent
Limited (UGAC). There yet remains plenty Japan also remains a vitally important market share in China in this segment. The
of growth potential in the rotorcraft market market for Airbus Helicopters, which has company has sold almost 200 helicopters
in China, however, limiting factors remain. received, maintained and delivered 3000 into China and has more than 100 of its
In as recent market analysis on China’s helicopters in Japan since 1967, where it now helicopters flying in Japan. Leonardo has also
Helicopters, Helicopter Investor brought out has a 43 percent market share. The most sold more than 50 military and commercial
the two main issues facing helicopter usage recent orders bagged by Airbus Helicopters helicopters to South Korea and has been
in China; Tight control on the country’s air Japan was from Akagi helicopter for a single very successful with its EMS offerings within
space by its air force which effects helicopter H125 that will be delivered to the company in Korea. Malaysia remains an important market
operations in airspace below 3,000 metres June 2018 for aerial photography and goods as well and Weststar Aviation Services,
and the lack of infrastructure to support transportation missions. Akagi helicopter a leading Malaysian rotorcraft operator,
helicopter operations. Airbus Helicopters will retire its two SA 3215 Lama’s, which celebrated 100,000 hours of operations

right: Airbus Helicopters
has become the first Western
rotorcraft manufacturer to
commence work on a final
assembly line (FAL) in China
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