Kopter (Booth N4615) will unveil its fifth launch customer for its SH09 light single helicopter on Tuesday at Heli-Expo. Previously committed early customers for the in-development, all-composite helicopter include two Swiss operators, a Polish operator, and a Norwegian operator. Kopter currently has 120 letters of intent, 27 firm orders and 19 memorandum of agreements for the SH09. EASA certification of the helicopter is expected in 2019.
With a focus on developing in the U.S., Kopter recently appointed Larry Roberts as the senior vice president of sames for North America and established a partnership with Metro Aviation. Kopter is aiming to create a U.S. subsidiary in the second quarter, with first SH09 deliveries from the U.S. facility expected at the end of 2021.
Kopter has received facility location proposals from 38 locations in the U.S. “The right place is evidently where we find the helicopter community, where we find qualified personnel, where we find space for the facilities, and where they show us through the conditions they offer that we are welcome,” said Kopter CEO Andreas Löwenstein.