France: Now Airbus will prepare H125 helicopter in India, Bhoomi Pujan of eight FAL sites will happen this year
Airline manufacturer Airbus has only three such locations across the world where the company has established its final assembly lines. Final assembly line means where the company manufactures its H125 helicopters. Airbus officials said the facility, which will be the fourth final assembly line (FAL) for the single-engine H125, will initially produce 10 helicopters annually and the capacity will be increased depending on market demand.
‘India is the future market for helicopters’
Olivier Michelon, executive vice president, global business, Airbus Helicopters, said India is the future market for helicopters. Currently, the market is in a very nascent stage, which is very small compared to the potential it holds. The groundbreaking ceremony for FAL is expected to take place in October or November this year and the facility will be commissioned in 2026 while deliveries are expected to begin in late 2026.
‘Construction will increase based on market demand’
“We have identified eight sites that we are currently evaluating,” said Olivier Michelon. We are still in the final stages of evaluation. We want to be attractive and in an ecosystem that best suits industrial activities, logistics, workers and, of course, regulations,” Michelon said at a briefing in Marignane earlier this week. At the same time, Olivier Michelon stressed that the production of 10 helicopters is not a lot and it could be 20, 30 or 50 in a few years, depending on market demand.
Demand for H125 is estimated to be 500 in the next 20 years.
We build, sell and support helicopters,” said Olivier Michelon. Plus, we build, sell, and support solutions. This is what we can provide. Make in India solution also. Sunny Guglani, head of Airbus Helicopters in India and South Asia, said in the briefing that Airbus has estimated the demand for H125 helicopters in India and neighboring countries to be 500 in the next 20 years. According to the information, Airbus is also setting up FAL for C295 aircraft in Vadodara, Gujarat.
More than 7,200 H125 helicopters are flying in the world
Let us tell you that Marignane is the headquarters of Airbus Helicopters. While for Airbus, the H125 is the best-selling helicopter in India as well as in the South Asia region. Which can carry six people. There are about 350 civil and semi-public helicopters in India and South Asia (India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives). According to Airbus, less than 250 of those helicopters are in service in India. India has around 100 Airbus helicopters, mostly H125 and 130. There are more than 4300 H125 helicopters flying around the world.
