by Tim Hepher
MARIGNANE, France (Reuters) – The chairman of Airbus Helicopters told Reuters he expects order intake to rise in 2022 as the rush for new energy sources and rising defense spending accelerate the recovery of the helicopter sector, which had been sluggish for a long time.
The helicopter sector, supported by public services, has suffered less from the coronavirus pandemic than the aviation sector. The energy crisis and a reassessment of priorities due to the conflict in Ukraine, however, contributed to the recovery.
“We are expecting a very strong year in terms of order intake in particular,” said Bruno Even, as the world’s leading civil helicopter manufacturer celebrates its 30th anniversary.
“Similarly, we anticipate growth in our revenue, which will be supported by growth in services and helicopter deliveries.”
Order intake had already increased in 2021, in particular thanks to a military order of 8.55 billion euros placed by the French State. New military contracts were signed this year.
“2021 really marked a turning point, the previous years were tough for the industry,” Bruno Even told Reuters.
Flight hours, which induce services such as routine maintenance accounting for almost half of Airbus Helicopters’ turnover, have returned to pre-pandemic levels, and the number of second-hand helicopters available, a drag for new sales, fell, he added.
“We are seeing early positive signs in the oil and gas markets, and positive signs in terms of activity and flight hours.”
“WE CAN’T NOT WORRY”
Airbus expects to build between 180 and 190 single-engine helicopters this year and more than 200 in 2023, said Axel Aloccio, program manager for Light Helicopters at Airbus Helicopters.
The group also announced on Friday the acquisition by the Brazilian army of 27 H125 helicopters to replace the AS350 and Bell 206 currently in service.
In 2020, production had fallen to 130 helicopters, before recovering to pre-pandemic levels in 2021, with around 160 helicopters produced.
Rising inflation, however, presents a new risk for the current year, and the many successive crises – such as the coronavirus pandemic – are weighing on supply chains, believes Bruno Even.
“We cannot not be worried. This is a subject that concerns the entire aeronautical industry.”
Asked if the tensions weighing on supply chains were easing, Bruno Even said: “No, it’s an area of tension and it will remain so in the coming months.”
The Airbus Helicopters president also acknowledged that obtaining certification for his H160s from the American authorities was taking longer than expected, but said he expected to obtain the approval of the American aviation authority (FAA) this year.
“It’s part of the trajectory, we are resuming close cooperation with the FAA.”
The American aviation authority, however, refused to give a timetable. “Security dictates the schedule. We cannot comment on the certification procedures in progress,” she explained.
(Reporting Tim Hepher, David Shepardson; French version Camille Raynaud and Diana Mandiá, editing by Kate Entringer)