Airbus Helicopters may produce two versions of its new super-medium EC175, depending on the results of a planned flight-test campaign for a new higher-weight variant.
The Marignane-based manufacturer will next year begin evaluating the new model, which gains an additional 300kg (660lb) over the baseline helicopter, ahead of planned 2016 certification.
Although it believes the higher maximum take-off weight can be achieved without modifications to the airframe or engines, the test programme will assess any potential impact on maintenance costs, says Mickael Melaye, head of worldwide oil and gas sales at Airbus Helicopters.
"We know that we had margins on pretty much every part of the aircraft, now we are asking for additional payload," he says.
If the assessments reveal a negative effect on overhaul intervals or on the helicopter's empty equipped weight, it may from 2016 offer a customers a choice of variants to "maximise flexibility", says Melaye.
However, if the reverse is true, it will likely only produce the heavier 7.8t model. "We still have to discuss this with our customers," says Melaye. Any modifications required will also be “retrofittable” to the previously delivered examples, he says.
Just five orders for the EC175 were added to the backlog in 2013, with certification only achieved on 30 January this year.
Although he declines to be drawn on how many additional commitments it hopes to amass in 2014, Melaye remains confident on the type's sales prospects.
"The oil and gas market is a very careful environment, they don't get too excited about things - they prefer they are real and proven, then they are capable of making a big noise," he says.
Melaye was speaking on 20 May in Aberdeen during the second day of a demonstration tour covering North Sea bases in the UK and Norway.
Among those due to experience the aircraft during the tour was Bill Amelio, chief executive of Canada's CHC Helicopter, one of the three big Aberdeen operators. CHC has yet to commit to the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-powered helicopter, however.
Deliveries to the type's launch customers - Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen, Héli-Union and UTair - will begin in the second half of 2014, with operators having previously indicated this will slip into the fourth quarter.
In all, Airbus Helicopters plans to deliver “three to four” EC175s this year, before ramping up to 18 in 2015 and 30 in 2016, says Melaye.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
