Asia Correspondent

Chen Chuanren

Airbus Helicopters vice president and head of sales for Southeast Asia &amp; Pacific Fabrice Rochereau sees potential for the H130 light-single helicopter in corporate, private and tourism operations in the region, he told AIN last week at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition in Malaysia. “We have success all over the world, especially in the AsiaPacific, but strangely enough we have no customers in Malaysia yet,” he noted.


Although the platform is used for emergency medical services (EMS) in markets such as India, this industry is not totally mature in Southeast Asia, Rochereau said. In fact, only about 4 percent of H130 sales are for EMS in Asia Pacific, while the bulk—40 percent—is for air taxis and passenger transport.


“I would like to start this year with two or three aircraft, and five next year,” Rochereau said. Airbus Helicopters will begin H130 demo flights for customers starting next month. To help boost sales and address the weaker Malaysian ringgit, he said that Airbus Helicopters will work with financing companies to ensure affordability in both acquisition and operation. This includes an hourly maintenance plan priced at $250.


Meanwhile, Airbus Helicopters has been monitoring customer satisfaction, as well as the age of in-service aircraft, through its partners and directly with customers. While corporate operators stretch ownership of an individual helicopter from 10 to 15 years, private operators typically change the platform after three years, when the warranty expires.

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