Eurocopter plans to open a global network of 13 product support centres to promote sales of its EC120B Colibri light turbine helicopter to private customers. The production rate of the five-seat single-engined helicopter is also to be doubled, with the company recently handing over the 100th Colibri and aiming to deliver the 200th before the end of the year.
While most sales have been to para-public organisations and the military, Eurocopter co-chairman Dr Siegfried Sobotta says there is increasing interest from the private sector in the $8 million machine.
Supporting private operators will require improved access to service in the form of a network of product support centres. Each of the 13 centres would handle subsidiary service operations, aimed at reducing the time required for private Colibri operators to reach the nearest service centre from 1h to around 10min.
Eurocopter has sold 170 Colibris since the first aircraft was handed over in January 1998. To keep pace with the growing demand, the company plans to ramp up deliveries from 56 in 1999 to 110 this year.
"We hope to get at least 50% of a market for around 400 units of this type of helicopter in the next five years," says Eurocopter chairman Patrick Gavin, who is to be replaced by Francois Bigay, returning from a stint as aeronautics vice-president at Aerospatiale Matra. Eurocopter claims a 40% market share in the USA in the Colibri's category.
Source: Flight International