Aviation Week Heli-Expo Show News Briefing - February 24-26, 2008 - (Page 8) Rolls Celebrates the 30,000th Model 250 Not Quite Turbomerica, But Turbomeca Boosts Its American Presence Turbomeca produced 1,245 helicopter engines in 2007, marking a gain of 17% over 2006. It performed maintenance and repair on 2,560, an 11% rise. Some 550 engines were built in the U.S. “The will of Turbomeca is to increase significantly the American content,” says Emeric d’Arcimoles, chairman and CEO of Turbomeca (Booth 1031), the French engine manufacturer that claims a staggering 46% of the world helicopter market. To that end Turbomeca is performing more assembly in the U.S., and offerEmeric d'Arcimoles. ing more service support, and is signing contracts with North American suppliers. Parts like impellors, disks and axial wheel will be U.S.-made. To supplement its assembly line in Dallas, Turbomeca is investing $50 million in a 100,000-sq-ft plant in Monroe, N.C. with lines for turbine blades, rotating parts such as centrifugal impellors, injection wheels and flange shafts, and fabricated parts including turbine casings, nozzle guide vanes and diffusers. “Our goal is to be fully operational at this site by the end of 2008,” d’Arcimoles says. Employment by that time is expected to reach 180. The French firm supplies Arriel 1E2 engines for the U.S. Army’s UH-72A light utility helicopter (the Lakota) built by American Eurocopter in Columbus, Miss. Thus it’s good politics to bring business here, and the strategy helps with currency management by reducing exposure to the strong euro. Rolls-Royce (Booth 1917) is celebrating delivery of the 30,000th Model 250 engine, a 250-C30HU engine that will be installed in an MD530F aircraft by MD Helicopters. The Model 250 made its market debut in 196X. “Virtually every turbine-powered light helicopter manufacturer produces an aircraft which offers one of the Rolls-Royce Model 250 engines, the firm says. Operating costs are said to be the lowest in the class, and are still being driven down, according to acting helicopters business president Ken Roberts, by such innovations as better power-by-the-hour deals, and custom warranties suited to individual operators’ needs. A Model 250-C20R is shown here. Turbomeca Expands in Canada, China Turbomeca (Booth 1031) is expanding in Canada, investing C$5 million to double its fiveyear-old repair center for Arriel engines in Montreal to 100,000 sq ft. In recent world wins, Turbomeca is supplying the (EASA-certified), 1,200-shp Ardiden 1H “Shakti” engine for 159 Dhruv twins for India. With well over 300 units, it is the largest helicopter engine order in Turbomeca’s history. Beijing Turbomeca Changkong Aero-Engine Control Equipment Co. will be inaugurated in China next month. Bell 407 Breaks 1,000-Order Mark Orders for Bell’s 407 light single helicopter have surged through the 1,000 mark, with some 800 already in service and a backlog of 260 more on order. The 407 seems set to repeat the popularity of the 206 JetRanger from which it was derived (the JetRanger having recently fallen victim to Bell’s industrial rationalization drive after 40 years in production). The 407 has also benefited from the cancellation of the more powerful, improved 417—some 95% of the 417’s orders were converted to the 407, says Bob Fitzpatrick, Bell sales and marketing svp. Bell is at Booth 4629. Sikorsky Leans on Schweizer on Low End Schweizer (now owned by Sikorsky; Booth 1641) produced just 58 of its 333 turbine helicopters since first flight in 1988, but last year alone it took orders for 13. Counting in the new 434 (with more power and a four-bladed rotor), last year’s tally was a whopping 28 aircraft. “This is the power of the Sikorsky brand, where we can offer an entry level helicopter where we haven’t been in the marketplace before,” says Steve Estill, Sikorsky worldwide sales vp. “There could be a time when we look at expanding Schweizer as an entry level brand, but not right now. We will see just how it goes with the 434.” as It Gets Deeper Into China Hard on the heels of Sikorsky’s signing China’s Changhe Aircraft Industries Corp to become the second supplier for S-76 airframes (Aero Vodochody in the Czech Republic is working to capacity), the Chinese company has now bought into Shanghai Sikorsky, a Sikorsky joint venture with Shanghai Little Eagle. Shanghai Xinsheng Aviation Industry Investment and Development Co. has also made an investment. Changhe earlier signed up to manufacture airframes for the Schweizer 300 series. The bigger venture will now expand its business to provide supply chain management services and to serve both Sikorsky’s and Changhe’s civil fleets in China. A Schweizer 300C is shown here. February 24, 2008 8 www.aviationweek.com/shownews http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews
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