Three leading US piston helicopter makers, Enstrom, Robinson and Schweizer, report mixed sales fortunes in 1997.
Torrence, California-based Robinson Helicopters continues to lead the sector with an increase in sales from 162 helicopters in 1996 to 244 helicopters in 1997, including 100 overhauled and remanufactured models. Of this total, 132 were two seat R22s and 114 four seat R44s. "So far this year, we have received orders for 50 helicopters," says Robinson. Responding to the increased demand, the piston helicopter manufacturer is stepping up production of both models from six to eight new aircraft a week, with the remanufacture production line remaining at three a month.
The company recently entered the burgeoning electronic news gathering (ENG) market, with the delivery of three R44s to two US television networks. Two more aircraft are on order for undisclosed European television companies.
Elmira, New York-based Schweizer and Enstrom of Menominee, Michigan, trail behind Robinson with sales of 40 and 12 helicopters, respectively, during 1997. Schweizer has begun to fight for a larger market share by freezing prices for its piston powered Model 300C at $223,500, while lowering the price of its less powerful Model 300CB by 4.5%, to $189,500. The price of the turbine powered Model 300SP, however, will increase by 2.5%, to $535,000. It anticipates 50 sales 1998.
Enstrom, which predicts sales of 18 aircraft in 1998, is targeting the ENG and law enforcement markets. It is now focusing its attention on its increasingly popular turbine powered Model 480.
Source: Flight International
