Airbus Corporate Helicopters has seen its order numbers rise in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic. At a press conference this week at NBAA-BACE, Frederic Lemos, head of the airframer’s helicopter unit, noted that in 2020 it received 62 orders worldwide including 22 ACH125s, 19 ACH130s, four ACH135s, 15 ACH145s, and two ACH160s.
The medium-twin ACH160 received its certification last year from EASA and has since added approval from Brazilian and Japanese authorities. While its FAA certification is still pending, Airbus Corporate Helicopters (Booth 1902, A309) has already five orders on its books for the helicopter in North America.
In the first half of 2021, the company received 43 orders, good for a 50 percent increase year-over-year. According to the company it now claims a more than 50 percent market share in deliveries in the private aviation segment since 2014.
In North America, the manufacturer received 13 orders for new helicopters in 2020, and for the first half of this year it has garnered nine orders. Since 2018, half of its orders in North America have come from new customers, and the company now claims a 30 percent market share there.
Last year the OEM launched its ACH130 Aston Martin Edition. The special edition is the first result of a partnership between ACH and luxury car manufacturer Aston Martin Lagonda. It has received 10 orders for the light single with its upgraded interior package, including two in North America and has thus far delivered four.
This summer one of the company’s ACH145s operated by German air ambulance operator ADAC earned the distinction of being the first helicopter to fly using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). In addition, Airbus has created a SAF User Group to promote the use of biofuels in civil turbine helicopters.