Eurocopter is aiming for a first flight of the EC175 heavy twin helicopter before the end of 2009, with the company planning to obtain certification in 2011 and deliver the first two aircraft to customers in 2012.
The 7t helicopter was jointly developed with China's Harbin Aviation, which will sell it in Asia as the Z15. There are two production lines - one in Harbin, China and another in Eurocopter's facility in Marignane, France, which will produce the first helicopters. The first China-made helicopter is expected to roll off the production line in 2013.
There have been 111 letters of intent for the 16-passenger EC175/Z15, which is primarily targeted at the oil and gas and the search and rescue markets. Eurcopter's executive vice-president for commercial programmes, Joseph Saporito, says that the most of these have come from European customers who will receive their helicopters from the French factory.
"This helicopter has been designed with the customers in mind and we have taken a lot of feedback from them, especially those from the oil and gas industry which is expected to make the most orders," says Saporito. "For this class of helicopter, it is the best compromise between performance, safety and cost."
The launch customers are the US-based Bristow Group, Canada's VIH Aviation Group and China's Longken General Aviation. Other commitments have come from the UK's Bond, Denmark's Dancopter, France's Heli-Union, Era and Halvorson Group of the US, India's Global Vectra, New Zealand's HNZ, Belgium's NHV and Pegaso of Mexico.
The EC175 is powered by the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67AE, which will feature a five-blade Spheriflex main rotor, three-blade tail rotor, four-axis duplex autopilot and five flat-panel cockpit displays.
Source: Flight Daily News
