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Despite down market, Airbus keeps improving H175

By Thierry Dubois | September 7, 2016

Estimated reading time 4 minutes, 39 seconds.

Airbus Helicopters is continuing its improvement plan for the H175 super medium twin, despite the main market for the model — oil-and-gas — being down and showing little sign of an upturn.

H175VIP_EXPH-1620-36R_© Anthony_Pecchi_2016
This year marks the delivery of the first two Airbus Helicopters H175s in a VIP layout, boasting a “jet-like” flying experience notably thanks to advanced soundproofing. Airbus Helicopters Photo

Program director Marc Allongue told Vertical the company expects certification for flight into limited icing conditions by the end of the year.

“In the same period, the 16- to 18-seater will have its maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) increased to 7.8 metric tons (17,180 pounds). This will translate into a 300-kilogram (660-pound) payload enhancement or an additional 40 nautical miles in range. Certification of the Rig’N Fly system for more automated approaches to oil rigs is scheduled “before next summer,” said Allongue.

Development of the public services version should culminate with certification in the third quarter of 2017. Missions may include search-and-rescue, emergency medical services and law enforcement. The first units of this variant will reach the market in late 2017, the launch customer being Hong Kong’s Government Flying Service.

This year, the Step 2+ version of the Helionix avionics suite (which includes a synthetic vision system) was approved, along with ADS-B Out, search-and-rescue modes, flight in snow conditions and an aft extension of the center of gravity range.

H175 Pegaso
Mexico’s Transportes Aéreos Pegaso is the second operator of the H175 in the oil-and-gas segment. Airbus Helicopters

Moreover, the UK Civil Aviation Authority has given its nod for the H175 to use two helipads — in the North Sea — that were initially designed for the smaller Sikorsky S-76. “This paves the way for being allowed into more oil platforms everywhere in the world,” Allongue said. A dedicated test campaign had taken place early in the program, during the development phase.

Late last year, the flight envelope was expanded in altitude and hot weather. Moreover, the autopilot was fully coupled to the traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) for automatic traffic avoidance, Allongue added.

All this progress is taking place against a backdrop of slow sales and deliveries. Across the industry, almost no orders were taken from the oil-and-gas market segment last year, but the H175 was a notable exception — at 36 orders, the company’s sales team exceeded their objective. Overcapacity at offshore operators, combined with the unlikeliness of a substantial increase in oil price, will make the overall trend unchanged in 2016 and 2017, in Airbus Helicopters’ view.

Nevertheless, 10 H175 deliveries are planned in 2016. Noteworthy was the first VIP aircraft, featuring a cabin interior from Pegasus Design, which was delivered in July. Distinctive are the hinged door — which optimizes space inside the cabin and enables better soundproofing — an electric footstep and electronically dimmable windows. A second VIP H175 is to be delivered by year-end.

This year, the unnamed VIP customer and Transportes Aéreos Pegaso, a company specializing in air transport services for the energy industry in the Gulf of Mexico, have become the second and third operators. NHV was first. The Belgium-headquartered company has been operating in the North Sea since late 2014 and, more recently, in Ghana.

Russia’s UTAir is officially an operator, but the only H175 delivered has been leased back to Airbus Helicopters, which is using it for marketing purposes.

As of late August, the fleet had logged 5,000 flight hours. The “availability rate,” not counting scheduled maintenance, was calculated at 90 percent in 2015. Airbus is planning on a similar percentage in 2016 — the first year with more than one operator.

A total 11 H175s have now been delivered, 10 of them being in commercial service. These numbers are far from initial expectations. In May 2014, 21 deliveries were planned over the 2014-2015 period.

The backlog of firm orders stands at 61. In 2017, Airbus targets 15 H175 handovers.

 

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