Sikorsky plans to jointly develop a one tonne civilian helicopter with China Aviation Industry Corp II, the Chinese state-owned aerospace major. Changhe Aircraft Industries, an AVIC II subsidiary, will work with the US manufacturer to develop and manufacture the aircraft, which would be targeted at the growing domestic market.
This follows an agreement for Changhe to build and deliver airframes for Sikorsky's S-76C helicopters at its plant in Jiangxi province.
The contract is worth $50-60 million annually, and the company expects to deliver parts for around 30 helicopters every year. It also manufactures tail pylons for Sikorsky's S-92A helicopter, and supplies airframe components and assemblies for Sikorsky's Schweizer 300CBi.
The companies signed a memorandum of understanding in June 2006, agreeing to open discussions on helicopter manufacturing, assembly, flight test, engineering design and analysis, and new product development in the light, intermediate and medium helicopter classes.
China has strict controls on the use of low-altitude airspace, severely restricting the growth of the helicopter market. But this could be relaxed next year before the Beijing Olympic Games, and further liberalised from 2010. Sikorsky has forecast that China needs about 1,000 helicopters in the next decade.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
