Airbus Helicopters

{{Short description|Helicopter manufacturing division of Airbus}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Airbus Helicopters SAS

| logo = Airbus Logo 2017.svg

| founded = {{start date and age|1992}}

| location = Marseille Provence Airport
Marignane, France

| key_people = Bruno Even (CEO){{cite press release| url=https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2018/02/bruno-even-appointed-ceo-of-airbus-helicopters-.html| title=Bruno Even Appointed CEO of Airbus Helicopters| date=14 February 2018| website=airbus.com}}

| products = {{hlist

| H125

| H130

| H135

| H145

| H155

| H160

| H175

| H215

| H225

| NH90

| Tiger

}}

| revenue = {{profit}} {{€|6.5 billion|link=yes}} (2021){{cite web |url=https://www.airbus.com/sites/g/files/jlcbta136/files/2022-03/AIRBUS%20FY2021%20FINANCIAL%20STATEMENTS%20DS.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418085151/https://www.airbus.com/sites/g/files/jlcbta136/files/2022-03/AIRBUS%20FY2021%20FINANCIAL%20STATEMENTS%20DS.pdf |archive-date=2022-04-18 |title=2021 Financial Statements |date= |access-date=July 29, 2022 |publication-date= | orig-date= |publisher=Airbus IR |website= |pages=25, 46 |language=en |format= |url-status= |url-access=}}

| revenue_year =

| operating_income = {{profit}} {{€|535 million}} (2021)

| net_income =

| num_employees = 20,126 (2021)

| parent = Airbus

| homepage = {{official website}}

}}

Airbus Helicopters SAS (formerly Eurocopter S.A., trading as Eurocopter Group) is the helicopter manufacturing division of Airbus. It is the largest in the industry in terms of revenues and turbine helicopter deliveries, holding 48% of the worldwide market share as of 2020.{{cite web |title=Market share of the leading helicopter manufacturers worldwide in 2020 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1117531/global-helicopter-market-share-manufacturer/ |date=15 July 2022}} Its head office is located at Marseille Provence Airport in Marignane, France, near Marseille."[http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/Terms-and-Conditions_338.html Legal Notice and Disclaimer] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112014015/http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/Terms-and-Conditions_338.html |date=12 January 2014 }}." Airbus Helicopters. Retrieved on 24 January 2014. "[...]whose registered Office is located Aéroport International Marseille-Provence – 13725 Marignane Cedex – France" The main facilities of Airbus Helicopters are at its headquarters in Marignane, France, and in Donauwörth, Germany, with additional production plants in Spain, Brazil, Canada, Australia, Romania, the United Kingdom and the United States. The company, originally named Eurocopter, was rebranded Airbus Helicopters on 2 January 2014.{{cite web |url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2013-08-01/eurocopter-be-renamed-airbus-helicopter |title=Eurocopter To Be Renamed Airbus Helicopter |last=Sheppard |first= Ian|date=2013-08-01 |website=AINonline |publisher=AIN Publications |access-date=2019-09-19 }}

History

Airbus Helicopters was formed in 1992 as Eurocopter S.A., through the merger of the helicopter divisions of Aérospatiale and DASA. The company's heritage traces back to Blériot and Lioré et Olivier in France and to Messerschmitt and Focke-Wulf in Germany.{{Cite web|url=http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/History_24.html|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140114082556/http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/History_24.html|url-status=dead|title=Airbus Helicopters history|archive-date=14 January 2014}} Aérospatiale held 33% of the world's helicopter market share prior to the merger and DASA, 8%; Eurocopter's ownership was therefore split 70%–30% between the two parent companies to reflect their respective weight in the new entity.{{cite web |website=lesechos.fr |date={{date|1991/12/05}} |title=L'Aérospatiale détiendra 70% d'Eurocopter |url=https://www.lesechos.fr/1991/12/laerospatiale-detiendra-70-deurocopter-957971 }}{{cite web |website=liberation.fr |date={{date|1998/04/09}} |title=Eurocopter: 35 heures sans foi, sans loi. L'accord est dans la logique de l'entreprise, mais n'enthousiasme personne. |url=https://www.liberation.fr/futurs/1998/04/09/eurocopter-35-heures-sans-foi-sans-loi-l-accord-est-dans-la-logique-de-l-entreprise-mais-n-enthousia_235268/ }}{{cite web |website=humanite.fr |date={{date|1999/01/14}} |title=Une année 1998 record pour l'activité d'Aérospatiale |url=https://www.humanite.fr/social-et-economie/-/une-annee-1998-record-pour-lactivite-daerospatiale }}

Eurocopter and its predecessor companies have established a wide range of helicopter firsts, including the first production turboshaft-powered helicopter (the Aérospatiale Alouette II of 1955); the introduction of the Fenestron shrouded tail rotor (on the Gazelle of 1968); the first helicopter certified for full flight in icing conditions (the AS332 Super Puma, in 1984); the first production helicopter with a Fly-by-wire control system (the NHIndustries NH90, first flown in full FBW mode in 2003); the first helicopter to use a Fly-by-light primary control system (an EC135 testbed, first flown in 2003); and the first ever landing of a helicopter on Mount Everest (achieved by an AS350 B3 in 2005).{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/0509/whats_new/helicopter_everest.html |title=Landing on Air |publisher=National Geographic Adventure |date=1 September 2005 |access-date=24 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802071837/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/0509/whats_new/helicopter_everest.html |archive-date=2 August 2009 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.everestnews.com/stories2005/everestcopter05272005.htm|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20120224042457/http://www.everestnews.com/stories2005/everestcopter05272005.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 February 2012|title=Everest 2005: The Helicopter land on Everest with video: But it is good?|website=wayback.archive-it.org|access-date=2 April 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mounteverest.net/story/FrenchEverestMysteryChoppersUtopiasummit-VIDEOMay272005.shtml|title=French Everest Mystery Chopper's Utopia summit|publisher=MountEverest.net|date=27 May 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113192323/http://www.mounteverest.net/story/FrenchEverestMysteryChoppersUtopiasummit-VIDEOMay272005.shtml|archive-date=13 January 2015|url-status=dead}}

As a result of the merger of Aérospatiale and DASA in 2000, which founded Airbus, Eurocopter, now rebranded Airbus Helicopters, became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Airbus. The new aerospace corporation in 2000 also incorporated CASA of Spain, which itself had a history of helicopter-related activities dating back to Talleres Loring, including local assembly of the Bo105.

Today, Airbus Helicopters has four main plants in Europe (Marignane and La Courneuve in France, and Donauwörth and Kassel in Germany), plus 32 subsidiaries and participants around the world, including those in Itajubá, Brazil, Fort Erie, Canada, Brisbane, Australia, Albacete, Spain and Grand Prairie, USA.{{Cite web|url=http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/Airbus-Helicopter-Network-on-interactive-map_1290.html?countryISO2=ES|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116083723/http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/Airbus-Helicopter-Network-on-interactive-map_1290.html?countryISO2=ES|url-status=dead|title=Airbus Helicopters – Spain|archivedate=16 January 2014}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/Airbus-Helicopter-Network-on-interactive-map_1290.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115052008/http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/Airbus-Helicopter-Network-on-interactive-map_1290.html|url-status=dead|title=Airbus Helicopters – Interactive Network Map|archivedate=15 January 2014}}

Since approximately 2006, Eurocopter has been involved in the planning for the proposed pan-European Future Transport Helicopter project.{{Cite news|url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/ruestung-eu-beschliesst-bau-von-helikopter/3180012.html|title=Rüstung: EU beschließt Bau von Helikopter|access-date=2018-01-23|language=de|archive-date=16 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416204528/https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/ruestung-eu-beschliesst-bau-von-helikopter/3180012.html|url-status=dead}}

As of 2014, more than 12,000 Airbus Helicopters were in service with over 3,000 customers in around 150 countries.{{Cite web|url=http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/Who-We-Are_23-2.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114054045/http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/Who-We-Are_23-2.html|url-status=dead|title=Airbus Helicopters – Who We are|archive-date=14 January 2014}} Eurocopter became Airbus Helicopter at the start of 2014.{{Cite web |url=https://www.airbus.com/en/who-we-are/our-history/helicopters-history/airbus-helicopters-takes-off-2012-2017 |title=Airbus Helicopters takes off (2012-2017)|access-date=2024-04-19|website=Airbus|date=28 July 2021 }}

Eurocopter sold 422 helicopters in 2013 and delivered 497 helicopters that year.{{Cite web|url=http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/press/Airbus-Helicopters-aims-high-with-new-branding-and-a-strategic-transformation_1106.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203011704/http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/press/Airbus-Helicopters-aims-high-with-new-branding-and-a-strategic-transformation_1106.html|url-status=dead|title=Airbus Helicopters aims high with new branding and a strategic transformation|archive-date=3 February 2014}} In 2014, AH built a concrete cylinder for testing helicopters before first flight.{{cite web|url= http://helihub.com/2015/07/24/new-dynamic-testing-method-at-airbus-brings-helicopters-to-market-quickly/|title= New dynamic testing method at Airbus brings helicopters to market quickly|website= Helihub |date= 24 July 2015|access-date=2 April 2018}}

In December 2022, it was announced Airbus Helicopters has acquired the Kassel-Calden-headquartered gearbox and component supplier, ZF Luftfahrttechnik from ZF Friedrichshafen for an undisclosed amount. The business will be rebranded as Airbus Helicopters Technik.{{Cite news |last=Perry |first=Dominic |date=January 3, 2023 |title=Airbus completes acquisition of gearbox supplier ZF Luftfahrttechnik |work=FlightGlobal |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopters/airbus-completes-acquisition-of-gearbox-supplier-zf-luftfahrttechnik/151505.article |access-date=January 3, 2023}}

In May 2024, Airbus Helicopters signed a MoU with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to finance civil helicopter purchases in India.{{cite web |title=SIDBI Takes Flight: Signs MoU with Airbus Helicopters to Finance Civil Aviation in India |url=https://www.brutimes.com/news/business/sidbi-takes-flight-signs-mou-with-airbus-helicopters-to-finance-civil-aviation-in-india |website=Bru Times News |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Airbus Helicopters and SIDBI sign an MoU for helicopter financing in India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/airbus-helicopters-and-sidbi-sign-an-mou-for-helicopter-financing-in-india/articleshow/110404954.cms |website=The Times of India |date=24 May 2024}}

=Historical emblems=

Historical emblems of the company:

File:Eurocopter logo (1992–2000).svg|1992–2000

File:Eurocopter logo (2000–2010).svg|2000–2010

File:Eurocopter company logo.svg|2010–2014

File:Airbus Helicopters (formerly Eurocopter Group) logo.png|2014–2017

File:Airbus Logo 2017.svg|alt=Airbus common logo since June 2017|2017–present{{Cite web|url= https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2017/07/airbus-flying-as-one.html|title=Flying as one: Fully integrated Airbus takes off|website=Airbus |access-date=2019-02-18}}

Products

Some of the helicopters were renamed in 2015, resembling Airbus airplane naming.{{cite news |url=http://www.verticalmag.com/digital_issue/2015/v14i2/files/40.html |title=Airbus renames fleet |page=36 |work=Vertical Magazine |date=April 2015 |access-date=11 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419023150/http://www.verticalmag.com/digital_issue/2015/v14i2/files/40.html |archive-date=19 April 2015 }}

When the division changed its name from Eurocopter Group to Airbus Helicopters in 2014 the trade names of the products were changed (applied by 1 January 2016) to reflect this. Suffixes, as well as the differentiation for single or twin engines, were no longer to be used. Military versions were to be symbolized by the letter M. The only exceptions to this new branding were the AS365, the AS565, the Tiger and the NH90, which will have kept their current names.{{cite web |date=March 2015 |title=History is written with an HI160 |url=http://www.airbushelicopters.com/w1/jrotor/100/sources/projet/pdfs/page7.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518080217/http://www.airbushelicopters.com/w1/jrotor/100/sources/projet/pdfs/page7.pdf |archive-date=2015-05-18 |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=www.airbushelicopters.com}}

class="wikitable sortable"

!Name

!Type

!class="unsortable"|Thumbnail

!Introduced

!MTOW
t (lb)

H125

|Light single-engine

|150x150px

|1975

|{{Convert|2.25|t|lb|abbr=values}}

H130

|Light single-engine

|150x150px

|2001

|{{Convert|2.5|t|lb|abbr=values}}

H135

|Light twin-engine

|150x150px

|1996

|{{Convert|2.98|t|lb|abbr=values}}

H140

|Light twin-engine

|2025

H145

|Light twin-engine

|150x150px

|2002

|{{Convert|3.7|t|lb|abbr=values}}

H155

|Medium twin-engine

|150x150px

|1999

|{{Convert|4.92|t|lb|abbr=values}}

H160

|Medium twin-engine

|150x150px

|2019

|{{Convert|6.05|t|lb|abbr=values}}

H175

|Super medium twin-engine

|150x150px

|2014

|{{Convert|7.8|t|lb|abbr=values}}

H215

|Heavy twin-engine

|150x150px

|1980

|{{Convert|9.15|t|lb|abbr=values}}

H225

|Heavy twin-engine

|150x150px

|2004

|{{Convert|11.2|t|lb|abbr=values}}

NH90{{efn|via 62.5% share in NHIndustries joint venture}}

|Military utility twin-engine

|150x150px

|2006

|{{Convert|10.6|t|lb|abbr=values}}

Tiger

|Military attack twin-engine

|150x150px

|2003

|{{Convert|6.6|t|lb|abbr=values}}

=Projects=

X³ rotorcraft – hybrid helicopter with two forward propellers, which achieved a 255-knot speed milestone in level flight in June 2011.{{Cite web|url=http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/press/Eurocopter-s-X3-hybrid-helicopter-makes-aviation-history-in-achieving-a-speed-milestone-of-255-knots-during-level-flight_1046.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527212324/http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/press/Eurocopter-s-X3-hybrid-helicopter-makes-aviation-history-in-achieving-a-speed-milestone-of-255-knots-during-level-flight_1046.html|url-status=dead|title=Eurocopter's X3 hybrid helicopter makes aviation history in achieving a speed milestone of 255 knots during level flight|archive-date=27 May 2014}}
Airbus Helicopters X6 – Two year concept study into the possible launch of an 11.5t helicopter to replace the H225.{{Cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/paris-airbus-helicopters-launches-x6-concept-phase-413665/|title=PARIS: Airbus Helicopters launches X6 concept phase|date=16 June 2015}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.airbushelicopters.com/website/en/press/Airbus-Helicopters-launches-X6-concept-phase,-setting-the-standard-for-the-future-in-heavy-lift-rotorcraft_1771.html|title=Airbus Helicopters launches X6 concept phase, setting the standard for the future in heavy-lift rotorcraft|website=www.airbushelicopters.com|access-date=2016-07-08|date=16 March 2015}}
Airbus RACER, experimental high-speed compound helicopter developed from the X³, targeting a 2020 first flight.
Airbus CityAirbus, electrically powered VTOL aircraft demonstrator, intended for an air taxi role.