North Sea helicopter manufacturer Airbus Helicopters is betting on military deals to lift orders as the plunge in the price of crude hits demand from oil explorers.
The French company, which is part of aerospace and defence giant Airbus Group, said yesterday it expected stabilisation in the industry during 2015.
Its new helicopter deliveries fell by 5.2% to 471 last year, while net sales fell by 20 units to 402.
But it supplied a record 101 heavyweight choppers during 2014, including 48 Super Pumas.
This year, the company hopes to win tenders with its NH90 model for 70 military transport helicopters for Poland, 24 for Kuwait and 22 for Qatar.
Chief executive Guillaume Faury said he also had his eye on a possible deal for 32 attack helicopters for Poland.
Non-military sales represented 52% of turnover last year, while military orders accounted for 48%.
Mr Faury said the civil helicopter market would remain under pressure over the short-term as a result of the plunge in the price of crude, which has prompted oil exploration companies to tighten costs and push back projects.
Oil companies account for 15% of Airbus Helicopters’ revenue, he said, adding that while some deliveries had been postponed, there were no cancellations to report.
Helicopters are still in demand as oil and gas exploration shifts to zones that are harder to access, he said.
Marignane-based Airbus Helicopters said its 2014 highlights included a near-doubling of orders for its EC145 choppers, in both civil and military versions.
December’s introduction of the EC175 for North Sea work was another key achievement, it said.
Deliveries and new contracts for this aircraft will continue in 2015, backed by the “industrial ramp-up and a dedicated plan to ensure this helicopter’s maturity”, the firm added.
Airbus Helicopters employs more than 23,000 people globally.
About 12,000 of its helicopters are currently in use, operated by in excess of 3,000 customers in more than 150 countries.
The firm’s worldwide network of service centres, training facilities, distributors and certified agents includes an operation in Dyce, Aberdeen.
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