Airbus Helicopters' 2017 delivery and order figures have shown strong demand for heavy and super-medium helicopters, according to the company.
Airbus delivered 409 aircraft and netted orders for 335 more in 2017 last year, with customers ordering 54 helicopters of the Super Puma family and 19 super-medium H175s. Bookings also included 168 orders for light single-engine helicopters and 105 orders for the H135/H145 light twins.
Guillaume Faury, Airbus Helicopters Chief Executive Officer, said the 2017 shipment figures were down to a company restructure that started with rebranding from Eurocopter.
“We are now closing the first chapter of the company-wide transformation launched in 2014, which has allowed us to become stronger and leaner in a challenging market environment.," he said. "Our 2017 results are a testimony to the great work done by our teams to transform our industrial operations, improve our products and services, while delivering an ambitious innovation roadmap to prepare the future of vertical flight.
“As we launch a second wave of company transformation this year, our main focus will be to speed up these efforts through increased digitalisation of our products, services and operations – for the benefit of our customers and the safety of our fleet”.
Airbus Helicopters currently produces 12 models of civil helicopter and has a dedicated corporate division to adapt and market existing types to executive transport.
At the end of 2017, Airbus Helicopters had a production backlog of 692 helicopters.