Airbus Corporate Helicopters (Booth Z55) has secured an additional order for an ACH160, increasing the number of sales for the corporate variations of the company’s newest medium helicopter to 11. The most recent order was placed by a UK operator who plans to use the helicopter for corporate travel.
In all, four of the ACH160s in the order book are destined for UK operators, including two that will be handed over to a privately owned UK company. Further, an existing private Airbus Helicopters VIP customer ordered an ACH160 that will be managed by Isle of Man-based Luviair.
This latest order comes as the H160 remains on pace for certification at the end of this year. The first of the ACH variants is anticipated to be handed over a year later. “This substantial new business for the ACH160 even before certification is clearly demonstrating its very high level of acceptance in the market,” said Frédéric Lemos, the head of Airbus Corporate Helicopters. “These firm orders from highly knowledgeable customers are concrete evidence that the aircraft is addressing the needs of the most demanding operators.”
Airbus rolled out Airbus Corporate Helicopters at EBACE 2017, creating an organization that would be dedicated to private and business aviation customers and more closely aligned with its sister company, Airbus Corporate Jets. Airbus Corporate Helicopters brings together engineering support, design specialists, support specialists, and sales and marketing experts to work directly with private and business aviation customers.
After its establishment, Airbus Corporate Helicopters logged 54 sales in 2017 and followed that with 68 in 2018. Lemos said he expects 2019 to remain relatively flat.