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| Airbus Helicopters (France) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Airbus Helicopters |
| Type | Société Anonyme |
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 1992 (as Eurocopter); 2014 (rebranded) |
| Headquarters | Marignane, Bouches-du-Rhône, France |
| Key people | Bruno Even (CEO) |
| Products | Helicopters, rotorcraft systems, services |
| Parent | Airbus |
Airbus Helicopters (France) is the French division of the European rotorcraft manufacturer known for civil and military helicopters. Formed from the consolidation of several Franco-German programs, it operates from a historic facility near Marseille and supplies aircraft to governments, corporations and humanitarian organizations worldwide. The company evolved through strategic mergers, industrial partnerships and technology transfers involving major aerospace actors across Europe, North America and Asia.
Airbus Helicopters traces its lineage to the post‑World War II French and German rotorcraft efforts including Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques du Sud-Est and Aérospatiale, and later the Franco‑German joint venture that produced the SA 330 Puma, SA 342 Gazelle and the landmark AS 332 Super Puma. The 1992 creation of Eurocopter Group merged assets from Aérospatiale-Matra and DASA, underpinning projects such as the EC135, EC145 and the Tiger. In 2014 the business adopted the Airbus branding, linking it to Airbus SE and aligning product lines with the Airbus A320 family era of globalization. Key milestones include certification of the H145M variant, introduction of the civil H175, and participation in multinational programs like the NHIndustries NH90 consortium.
Airbus Helicopters is a wholly owned division of Airbus SE, reporting within the Airbus Defence and Space segment and ultimately linked to shareholders such as Institutional investors in Europe and national stakeholders in France and Germany. Governance integrates executives familiar with legacy firms like Aérospatiale and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG (DASA), with oversight from boards engaged with European industrial policy, including interaction with agencies such as the European Defence Agency and procurement authorities in capitals including Paris, Berlin and London. Strategic alliances extend to suppliers like Safran, Thales Group and General Electric, while joint ventures and partnerships involve entities such as NHIndustries and Lockheed Martin in cross‑border programs.
The product range spans light twins (e.g., H135), medium twins (e.g., H175), heavy rotorcraft (e.g., H225M), and specialized military variants (e.g., Tiger). Civil markets include roles for Airbus A320 family operators’ offshore support, emergency medical services for organizations in United Kingdom and Spain, and law enforcement fleets in cities like Lyon and Madrid. Services cover fleet maintenance with networks in hubs such as Marignane and Donauwörth, training academies linked to programs in Helicopter flight training, and aftermarket support through suppliers including Liebherr and MTU Aero Engines. Product lines also incorporate rotor systems, avionics suites from Rockwell Collins, and integrated mission systems developed with Leonardo S.p.A..
R&D activities occur in collaboration with institutions such as ONERA, CNRS, and universities in Toulon and Toulouse. Projects target technologies like fly‑by‑wire controls demonstrated on the H145, low‑noise rotors inspired by studies from NASA and automation systems aligned with initiatives from Clean Sky and Horizon 2020. Demonstrators have explored hybrid‑electric propulsion with partners including Safran and Siemens, while sensor fusion and mission systems are pursued with Thales Group and MBDA. The company participates in European consortia addressing urban air mobility alongside firms such as Volocopter and research centers like DLR.
Primary manufacturing and final assembly are centered at Marignane near Marseille, with additional facilities at Donauwörth in Germany, and production partnerships in Spain and Poland. International subsidiaries and MRO centres operate in regions including United States, Brazil, Australia and India; commercial tie‑ups exist with distributors like Airwork and maintenance partners such as Sikorsky’s service networks. Supply chains link major component suppliers across Europe such as Aubert & Duval, Turboréacteur SAFRAN units, and electronics from Thales Alenia Space affiliates.
Airbus Helicopters supplies military customers including the French Armed Forces, German Armed Forces, Spanish Armed Forces, Royal Air Force and various NATO members, providing platforms for transport, search and rescue, and attack roles. Major contracts include national procurements for the H225M and modernization efforts for fleets in Greece, Poland and Brazil. Collaborative programs involve multilateral procurement frameworks such as NATO logistics support, partnerships with original equipment manufacturers like Leonardo on battlefield avionics, and offset agreements negotiated with ministries in Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Certification regimes involve authorities like the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration, with type certificates for models such as the H145 and H225. Safety programs incorporate lessons from incidents including high‑profile accidents that prompted airworthiness directives and fleet groundings coordinated with regulators in France and Norway. Continuous airworthiness management uses data analytics from partners like Honeywell and complies with standards from organizations such as ICAO and EASA rulemaking initiatives. Ongoing investigations into incidents have shaped maintenance practices and design updates in rotorcraft communities spanning Europe and North America.
Category:Aircraft manufacturers of France Category:Helicopter manufacturers