Airbus Helicopters has called time on its involvement in the short-light-single segment and has axed the H120 Colibri from its line-up.

The airframer confirms that serial production of the 1,715kg (3,780lb) maximum take-off weight helicopter ended in September when it handed over the final aircraft on order.

Flight Fleets Analyzer records that a total of 701 customer aircraft were produced over the life of the programme; service entry was in 1998.

Airbus Helicopters says it intends to focus its efforts "on markets where high-end technologies bring most value to customers".

Airbus Helicopters H120

Airbus Helicopters

In the single-engined category it will "concentrate on further developing" the H125 and H130 "through continuous improvements", it says.

With an H120 selling for around $2 million, the Safran Helicopter Engines Arrius 2F-powered rotorcraft is facing competition in the segment from cheaper helicopters, notably the Bell Helicopter 505.

The Jet Ranger X uses the 2R variant of the same engine and features a Garmin G1000H avionics suite, but retails for around $1 million less.

Source: FlightGlobal.com