Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC
Boeing has sold the former McDonnell Douglas (MDC) civil helicopter production line to Dutch holding company MD Helicopters, nearly two years after it snapped up the Mesa, California-based manufacturer in its merger with MDC. The deal is expected to be finalised and signed by 15 February, subject to US Federal Trade Commission approval.
The terms of the sale have not been revealed, although the US, Mesa-based company's civil assets have been valued at $155 million. "This is not a reflection of what they paid," says Boeing.
The deal covers the sale of all production jigs and tooling for the MD500, 530F, 520N and 600N single-engined range of helicopters, the eight-seat twin-turboshaft MD900 Explorer, and includes a licence to use the no tail rotor system (NOTAR) on existing and future helicopters. Boeing retains ownership of the NOTAR technology.
Boeing will continue to produce the civil machines under contract to MD Helicopters, a subsidiary of European industrial company RDM, for around 12 months. After that time, which manufacturing of the MD500/600 models will be transferred to its own site, which is likely to be adjacent to Boeing's Falcon Field plant at Mesa. Meanwhile, manufacture of the Explorer fuselage will be shifted to Turkish Aerospace Industries' Ankara factory and then shipped to Belgium for final assembly.
MD Helicopters was set up by RDM late last year to bid for the line-up. It acquired Belgian helicopter distributor Heli Fly, which was previously competing for the MD Explorer line. "We decided that we wanted to keep the helicopter lines together, but we could not afford it. We then approached RDM, who were very interested," says Heli Fly chief executive Tom Piron. Heli Fly will continue to provide sales and support for MD Helicopters in Europe.
Boeing had intended to sell the single-engined range of helicopters to Bell Helicopter Textron but the deal collapsed following an objection from the US authorities.
Boeing delivered 36 MD500/ 600/Explorer helicopters last year and has a firm order backlog for 22 machines. The US Border Control has indicated an requirement for 45 MD900Ns, of which eight have been fulfilled. The UK Police Aviation Services has signed a letter of intent to buy up to 10 Explorers. Three have been delivered.
Source: Flight International
