Airbus Helicopters' H160 is front and center this week at EBACE 2023. Airbus Corporate Helicopters (ACH; Booth Z52, Static Display AD_03) has an intermediate twin ACH160 on static display and another is available for customer demonstrations during the show.
The focus on marketing the ACH160 to the corporate/VIP segment follows Airbus's announcement of several new orders for the H160 platform and the continued evolution of the ACH brand, which it launched in 2017. Altogether, Airbus has booked more than 30 orders for the ACH160.
The medium-twin helicopter received EASA certification on July 1, 2020. Airbus already has received several large fleet orders for the H160. Last month, it signed a contract with China’s GDAT, a helicopter lessor and operator, for 50 H160s—a deal worth more than $700 million.
That announcement came during French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to China and is the largest single order for the H160 on the civil and parapublic market since the helicopter was unveiled in 2015. Other significant orders for the type to date include one for 169 militarized aircraft (designation H160M) from the French Armament General Directorate (DGA).
According to Airbus, the intermediate-twin helicopter features 20 percent more cabin volume per passenger and 35 percent larger windows than legacy helicopters in its class. It makes extensive use of carbon-fiber composites in the fuselage and main rotor blades that enhance corrosion resistance, especially in maritime operations.
The multirole, 12-passenger (four to eight in executive configuration) H160 also offers noise-reducing Blue Edge main rotor blades and advanced Helionix avionics with safety features that include accrued pilot assistance and flight envelope protection. Power comes from a pair of 1,300-shp Safran Arrano 1A engines that incorporate variable inlet guide vanes to cut fuel consumption. The H160 has an estimated maximum cruise speed of 150 knots, a 20,000-foot service ceiling, and a 475-nm range (no reserve, standard tanks).
For executive and VIP ACH160 customers, Airbus has designed a variety of configurations. In March, the airframer delivered the first ACH160 Exclusive helicopter to a private customer in France. The ACH160 Exclusive is the premium version of the H160 helicopter, which is certified by EASA and being delivered to private and business customers.
Last year, Airbus Helicopters, via its Helibras affiliate in Brazil, sold the first ACH160 equipped with the new modular “Line Lounge” interior. The Line Lounge can be configured with bench seating for four to eight passengers or two forward-facing armchairs with a rear-facing bench and cabinet. The option also comes with several high-end interior features and finishes, including leather patterns, metallic inserts and plating, and custom carpeting. Line Lounge is one of three interior configurations offered on the ACH160.
Airbus also continues to see success with its ACH130 Aston Martin edition (ACH130AM) following a recently announced design refresh that added more interior and exterior colors and detailing for the turbine-single helicopter. In fact, it now has orders for 18 and a production commitment for at least 30 copies.
Other ACH variants include the ACH125, ACH130, ACH135, ACH145, ACH160, and ACH175. They offer a range of premium completion features, including high-end interiors and various exterior paint schemes. All ACH helicopters can be supported by ACHCare via a five-year/1,000-flight-hour contract backed by 30 customer centers, 100 MROs, 10 global logistic hubs, and a 24/7 call center. ACH booked orders for 108 helicopters in 2022—the second successive year in which sales exceeded 100 aircraft.