The rotorcraft segment saw deliveries slow in the first half of 2019, with turbine-powered helicopters down 11.3 percent, according to data released yesterday by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). Total helicopters billings decreased from $1.7 billion to $1.5 billion.
Airbus Helicopters was the lone airframer to buck the trend, increasing its unit deliveries year-over-year by more than 5 percent. The OEM boosted deliveries of its light H125/H130 and its H145, while output of its H135s dipped.
Bell saw its deliveries drop by nearly 20 percent in the first six months. The Textron subsidiary is transitioning from the 407GXP, which had 33 deliveries in the first half of 2018, to the 407GXi, which had 19 through the first six months of 2019. Deliveries of the 505 also declined from 59 to 48 year-over-year.
In addition, Italian manufacturer Leonardo experienced a 25 percent year-over-year decline in the first half, delivering 18 fewer helicopters. Half of that loss can be attributed to the AW119Kx, which accounted for nine shipments in the first six months of 2018 but none in the same span this year.
Enstrom, which delivered three of its turbine-engined 480 light helicopters in the first half of 2018, also delivered none through the first six months of this year. California-based Robinson Helicopter saw its deliveries of the R66 diminish by 25 percent year-over-year.