Honeywell is taking a more cautious tone in its latest turbine-powered civil helicopter purchase outlook, which calls for 4,300 to 4,800 civil helicopters to be delivered from this year to 2020. This is some 400 helicopters fewer than in the avionics and engine manufacturer’s previous five-year forecast released 12 months ago, thanks to slower global economic growth and increased volatility in oil-and gas-related markets.
“The current global economic situation is causing fleet managers to evaluate new helicopter purchases closely, and that’s why we’re seeing a more cautious five-year demand projection compared with previous years,” said Honeywell Aerospace defense and space president Carey Smith.
While the survey showed new purchase-plan rates were stable, operators cited fewer total new model purchases over the five-year period. Make and model choices for new purchase decisions are most strongly influenced by range, cabin size, performance, technology upgrades and brand experience, according to the survey. By cabin size, light turbines are expected to account for 54 percent of deliveries over the forecast period; light twins, 11 percent; medium twins, 28 percent; and heavy, 7 percent.