New Delhi: The French aircraft maker, Airbus is said to be contemplating eight potential locations to set up its final assembly line for the H125 helicopters in India, media reports said on Sunday.
Executive vice president, global business, Airbus, Oliver Michalon said that the aircraft manufacturer had identified eight sites and assessment for the best one was on. “We are still in the final assessment stage. We should be in a position to announce it shortly,” Michalon added.
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The upcoming facility will be the fourth final assembly line (FAL) for the H125 helicopters, which is to produce up to 10 single-engine helicopters every year with an option to increase production due to high demand in the market, as per the report.
“India is the market of the future for helicopters… at present, the market is extremely embryonic, it is very small compared to what the potential could be,” said Michalon, as per the report.
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Michalon said that the Airbus has to reconsider the options as Indian market regulations are a bit restrictive. “But the company is working to lighten them up a bit and the skies to become more open,” he added.
Airbus officials said that the new FAL would be opened in October or November this year, and the facility will start operations in 2026. The deliveries will likely start from the end of 2026.
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The H125 helicopter is the bestselling helicopter in the South Asian and Indian regions, which can carry up to six people. Airbus expects demand for the H125 series to reach 500 in the coming 20 years, as per the report.
At a press conference, Sunny Guglani, head of Airbus Helicopters India and South Asia, said that Airbus is targeting 10 helicopters deliveries per year and they can ramp up the supplies if demands grow. “The focus is on to provide the South Asian and Indian regions with the “Make in India solutions” to support the helicopters built. The cost of the base model of the H125 helicopter will be around 3.2 million euros.
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Airbus is also building a FAL unit for its C295 aircraft in Vadodara, Gujarat, apart from the FAL of H125 choppers. After the FAL for the H125 helicopter is set up in India, the helicopters will go through the integration of the component assemblies, avionics and mission systems, installation of electrical harnesses, hydraulic circuits, flight controls, dynamic components, fuel system and the aircraft engine.
Currently, there are 350 civil and parapublic helicopters in India and South Asia. Out of the 350, close to 250 helicopters are in service in India. India has close to 100 Airbus helicopters, the majority of them between the H125 and H130 series, as per the report.
