- Reveal of the highly-anticipated X4 medium-sized aircraft
- Rollout of a new and improved Customer Service offer and enhanced warranty conditions
- Strong focus on customer satisfaction at the heart of busines
Orlando, Florida, 26 February, 2015 – The high-profile presence of Airbus Helicopters at Heli-Expo 2015 will confirm the company’s leadership role, with its unveiling of the all-new X4 rotorcraft and a rollout of the industry’s most comprehensive customer services coverage.
These developments are aligned with the company’s transformation plan, which has been implemented to provide highly efficient helicopter solutions for customers around the world.
“This year’s Heli-Expo will demonstrate Airbus Helicopters’ unwavering commitment to our priorities of customer satisfaction, quality, safety and competiveness,” said President Guillaume Faury. “It reflects our transformation to achieve these goals, and will highlight our development of next-generation aircraft and services that offer our customers the best solution for their needs.”
The X4 is to be unveiled March 3 at 11 a.m. EST on Airbus Helicopters’ Heli-Expo booth (#2437) in theOrange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida. As the first next-generation rotorcraft rolled out under the Airbus Helicopters identity, the X4 embodies the company’s values of excellence, agility, unity and integrity.
Incorporating Airbus Helicopters’ expertise in aerodynamics, rotor blade design and avionics, the twin-engine X4 is an all-new medium-sized aircraft capable of a full range of civil and parapublic missions. “The X4’s public debut is one of the most anticipated events at Heli-Expo 2015, and we look forward to the excitement of sharing our vision for the future,” Faury added.
Also to be introduced at Heli-Expo is Airbus Helicopters’ redefined services offer with enhanced warranty conditions, along with a new approach for material management service and the supply of spare parts. This offer puts the priorities on customer satisfaction by committing to quality and performance, while ensuring safety and operational availability. The company’s transformation has yielded visible results, as exemplified by the recent ProPIlot survey results, where Airbus Helicopters moved up two spots in one year to take 3rdplace.
The evolved Airbus Helicopters product line will be spotlighted on the company’s Heli-Expo exhibit stand, beginning with the EC175 in oil & gas configuration. Since its entry into service late December for North Sea operations for the oil and gas sector, the EC175 has been performing above expectations for a new aircraft with almost 90% availability, having transported 1500 passengers and accumulated more than 250 flight hours. This seven-ton-class rotorcraft has been certified to the latest airworthiness standards, and incorporates the Airbus Helicopters-designed Helionix® avionics suite.
An EC130 T2 in tourism configuration is also to be displayed at Heli-Expo, underscoring this light single-engine rotorcraft’s popularity with tourism and aerial sightseeing companies. Its Fenestron® tail rotor contributes to the helicopter’s very quiet operation, while the roomy modular cabin can accommodate up to seven passengers and the pilot.
The EC145 T2 exhibited at Heli-Expo will be operated in emergency medical services configuration by the U.S. launch customer. Enhancements of the “hot-and-high” evolution of the multi-purpose, twin-engine EC145 include new dual-Fadec Safran Arriel 2E engines and a Fenestron shrouded tail rotor, along with upgraded main and new tail rotor gear boxes, as well as the Helionix digital avionics suite featuring a 4-axis autopilot. The EC145 T2 is both EASA and FAA certified and saw its first delivery in July 2014. Some 140 aircraft have been ordered, including the military version EC645 T2.
Follow all of Airbus Helicopters’ activities at Heli-Expo 2015, including daily announcements and feature stories, by visiting the company’s website at: www.airbushelicopters.com (newly re-designed for Heli-Expo 2015), and on Twitter @AirbusHC.
About Airbus Helicopters
Airbus Helicopters is a division of Airbus Group, a global pioneer in aerospace and defense related services. Airbus Helicopters is the world’s No. 1 helicopter manufacturer and employs more than 23,000 people worldwide. With 44 percent market share in civil and parapublic sectors, the company’s fleet in service includes some 12,000 helicopters operated by more than 3,000 customers in more than 150 countries. Airbus Helicopters’ international presence is marked by its 29 customer centers and participations and its worldwide network of service centers, training facilities, distributors and certified agents. Airbus Helicopters’ range of civil and military helicopters is the world’s largest; its aircraft account for one third of the worldwide civil and parapublic fleet. The company’s chief priority is to ensure the safe operation of its aircraft for the thousands of people who fly more than 3 million hours per year.
For more information please contact:
Airbus Helicopters Airbus Helicopters
Stéphane Chéry Erin Callender
Tel: + 33 (0)4 42 85 60 51 Tel: + 33 (0)4 42 85 51 31
Mob: + 33 (0)6 23 93 71 23 Mob: + 33 (0)6 72 86 68 03
stephane.chery@airbus.com Erin.Callender@airbus.com
Airbus Helicopters Inc.
Bob Cox
Tel: + 1 972 641 3525
Mob: + 1 972 213 2038
