Julian Moxon/PARIS
Eurocopter plans to begin taking orders for its EC145 utility twin helicopter at the end of the year, following major delays caused by production and avionics integration problems at its German plant.
Sales of the six-seater, also dubbed the BK117C-2 by joint venture partner Kawasaki Heavy Industries, stand at 40 machines - 32 for the French Sécurité Civile and eight for the Gendarmerie. Officially, however, the EC145 has not been launched, since the current orders are around two years production capacity. Eurocopter says it plans to introduce the type at the Paris Air Show, and begin "serious marketing" a few months later.
First deliveries of the EC145 to the Sécurité Civile were set for mid-2000, but will now be in April, when two machines, equipped only with visual flight rules avionics, will be delivered for training. The remainder will be delivered progressively to late 2005, replacing ageing the Allouette 3s now in service.
Senior Eurocopter vice-president Siegfried Sobotta says the delays stem from "overloading" the production line at Eurocopter Germany, which is also responsible for final assembly of the fast-selling EC135. The main cause has been the change of auto-pilot supplier, from Honeywell to Thales Avionics (formerly Sextant). This "left no capacity to meet the original schedule". Sobotta adds that Eurocopter decided to have autopilot commonality between the EC135, EC145 and EC155, based on the EC135 system, as part of a general move towards standardised avionics, cockpits and interior furnishings. "We see this as a way to reduce production costs significantly and be even more competitive. It's an Airbus-style approach to achieving commonality across production," says Sobotta.
Sobotta insists there is a "substantial" potential market for the new helicopter, which was designed around the Sécurité Civile mission. "We already have strong interest from several emergency medical services and police organisations. Our problem has been to deliver to new customers before 2002," he adds.
Source: Flight International
