MAGAZINE 02 | (^25)
prototype. With the program de-
layed due to vibration problems
found during test lights and the
need to change blade design, the
company is in a transformation
process, preparing itself for the
beginning of series production of
its light single-turbine helicopter.
With over $ 150 million in
backlog, the company already
has two production sites and ex-
pects to complete the homologa-
tion until the end of 2019. In the
next semester, the third proto-
type should join the two already
existing ones in the homologa-
tion campaign and, in the irst
quarter of 2019, the irst pre-
production helicopter should
join the three existing ones.
CLOSED BUSINESSES
Over the past years, in the fairs
no great announces were made.
Even due to the optimism
atmosphere of the event, this
seems to be let in the past. On
the second day of the Heli-
Expo, we heard hundreds of
purchasing announcements.
Leonardo signed a sales
contract of 26 helicopters for a
value estimated in $ 147 mil-
lion with its Chinese distributor.
Airbus and Metro Helicopters
announced an order of 25 mod-
els of the EC145e for nearly $
125 million. Metro is planning
to use the helicopters for renew-
ing its aeromedical recue leet
- Airbus also announced orders
for other 25 aircrats to diferent
operators. On the other hand,
Kopter announced a irm order
of 23 models of SH09 for a value
estimated in $ 119 million, with
11 purchase options more, the
orders were from a group of
European operators. hese were
the main businesses announced
at the fair, apart from the several
leasing contracts and individual
sales executed.PROSPECTS
In 2019, the Heli-Expo will take
place in Atlanta, Georgia, on
March 4-7. It will be another op-
portunity to check the industry’s
progress, its news and trends. If
the optimism shown this year
persists, 2019 is expected to
be an event full of good news.
Moreover, some of the main
programs under development
today, have a homologation date
in 2019, among them, the Bell
525 in the super-medium class
and the H160 in the medium,
in addition to the SH09 in the
light single turbine class. New
certiied programs oten indicate
announcements of new products
and developments. Let’s wait,
2019 is expected to be good!