Helicopter Report

FlightGlobal takes a look at the latest product developments across the various segments of the helicopter market.

  • Arguably the most competitive part of the helicopter market, the light-single segment is, however, not necessarily blessed with the most modern designs. Nonetheless, new models are in development which will bring innovation to the sector.
  • While not selling in the same quantities as their lighter siblings, light-twin helicopters play a significant role in society, notably in law enforcement and emergency medical services missions.
  • Heading up the weight range means these medium-class helicopters are more capable but more complex – and come with a bigger price ticket. Despite this, there are big sellers in this category, alongside new entrants.
  • A few years ago there were many forecasts that the new super-medium-class helicopters would sell by the bucket-load. This has not quite come to pass, although those operating the rotorcraft in this weight class have used their performance benefits to push into new markets.
  • Heavy-twins sit at the top of each manufacturer’s range and while a downturn in oil and gas services has hurt sales in some cases, interest from the search and rescue operators has remained strong.

505-c-Bell

New models set to bring fresh competition to light-single helicopter segment

Arguably the most competitive part of the helicopter market, the light-single segment is, however, not necessarily blessed with the most modern designs. Nonetheless, new models are in development which will bring innovation to the sector.

Victoriafires09_credit Erickson Air-Crane

Helicopters: the crack troops of the war on wildfires

Rotorcraft are able to tackle forest blazes in a way fixed-wing aircraft can not. We look at what the various assets on the market can offer

Civil helicopter deliveries

The global helicopter market in numbers

A breakdown of the global in-service fleets across the civil and military helicopter markets, together with historic fleet and delivery trends.

H175-c-AirbusHelicopters

Slow-selling super-medium-class helicopters make modest headway

A few years ago there were many forecasts that the new super-medium-class helicopters would sell by the bucket-load. This has not quite come to pass, although those operating the rotorcraft in this weight class have used their performance benefits to push into new markets.

AW139-c-Leonardo

New arrivals in medium helicopter sector threaten the old order

Heading up the weight range means these medium-class helicopters are more capable but more complex – and come with a bigger price ticket. Despite this, there are big sellers in this category, alongside new entrants.

H135-c-AirbusHelicopters

Airbus dominates light-twin helicopter market with German-built duo

While not selling in the same quantities as their lighter siblings, light-twin helicopters play a significant role in society, notably in law enforcment and emergency medical services missions. 

Mi171-c-RussianHelicopters

Heavy-twin helicopters are dragged down by offshore slump

Heavy-twins sit at the top of each manufacturer’s range and while a downturn in oil and gas services has hurt sales in some cases, interest from the search and rescue operators has remained strong.

More helicopter news

LCI H175-c-Airbus

LCI sees onset of helicopter replacement cycle amid booming demand

Lessor LCI is eyeing a future bow-wave of replacement activity in the helicopter market, even as operators struggle to meet their near-term requirements for lift.

CH-149 Cormorant-c-Leonardo Helicopters

Leonardo Helicopters chief upbeat on Yeovil prospects as new contracts land

Leonardo Helicopters chief executive Gian Piero Cutillo believes the company’s UK site in Yeovil will remain a “centre of excellence” for the company, amid an expansion of its production footprint elsewhere.

AW09 PS4 first flight (1)

Kopter flies first AW09 prototype with Arriel 2K engine

Swiss helicopter developer Kopter has performed the maiden sortie of its latest AW09 prototype – the first to be fitted with the Safran Helicopter Engines Arriel 2K powerplant.

Bell 525

Bell outlines 525’s growth potential as Relentless nears certification ‘finish line’

Bell is already contemplating future potential enhancements, including an increased maximum take-off weight (MTOW), for its 525 Relentless even as the super-medium-twin enters the final stages of its certification campaign.

Bell 407GXI Demo Aircraft 07

Bell secures 407GXi, 429 orders in the Asia-Pacific

Bell has secured three orders in the Asia-Pacific, including the first Bell 407GXi sale in Taiwan.

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Milestone sees full return to service for S-92 fleet by year-end

Lessor Milestone Aviation expects, by year-end, to have returned all its fleet of Sikorsky S-92 heavy-twins to service on the back of an oil and gas rebound that has been driving operator demand for helicopters.

LCI H175-c-Airbus

H175 gaining traction on oil and gas rebound, argues Airbus Helicopters chief

Airbus Helicopters is convinced that the positive momentum seen for the H175 super-medium twin in 2022 will develop into a fully fledged resurgence over the coming months.

AW609_DAS_2021_2

Weststar signs on as partner for AW609 programme

Leonardo Helicopters has secured another partner for its AW609 programme, signing up Malaysia’s Weststar Aviation to assist with the service entry of the civil tiltrotor.

MH-139A Grey Wolf

MH-139 partners eye first LRIP deliveries in early 2024

Partners Boeing and Leonardo will from early next year begin deliveries of the first MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopters to the US Air Force (USAF) following the service’s so-called ‘Milestone C’ decision to green-light production.

P330_Kaman_Mining_Render_4K_021023

PHI picks Kaman Kargo drone for logistics missions

Oil and gas specialist PHI has become the latest traditional rotorcraft operator to enter the market for next-generation aircraft, at Heli-Expo signing for up to 50 examples of Kaman’s developmental Kargo drone.