Airbus selects 8 locations in India for H125 helicopter final assembly line

French aircraft manufacturer, Airbushas shortlisted eight locations in India to house its latest H125 helicopter production line.

The ceremony is expected to take place later this year.

According to Airbus officials, the facility will initially build up to 10 helicopters annually, with capacity to be scaled up based on market demand. This will be the fourth Final Assembly Line (FAL) for the single-engine H125.

The first pile for the FAL is expected to be driven in October or November of this year. The facility will be operational in 2026, with delivery beginning towards the end of that year.

“India is the market of the future for helicopters… right now the market is still at a very embryonic stage, very small compared to what it could potentially be,” said Olivier Michalon, Executive Vice President Global Business of Airbus Helicopters, quoted by Business Standard.

“We have identified eight locations that we are currently evaluating. We are still in the final evaluation phase. We should be able to announce it soon. We want to be attractive and in an ecosystem that best suits industrial activities, logistics, employees and of course regulations,” Michalon said at a briefing in Marignane, France, according to reports. Meanwhile, Airbus Helicopters is based in Marignane.

Airbus H125 helicopter is the best-selling model in India and South Asia. Airbus estimates that the demand for H125 helicopters in India and neighbouring countries will be 500 in the next two decades. Michalon, Executive Vice President Global Business, Airbus Helicopters stressed that while 10 may not seem like much, in other years it could be 20, 30 or 50 depending on the market demand.

Airbus believed the H125 helicopter would follow in the footsteps of the success of the narrow-body A320 aircraft. “H125 is our A320,” Michalon said, according to the report.

In addition, six passengers can travel in an H125. In addition, Airbus is preparing the FAL for the C295 aircraft in Vadodara, Gujarat.

In South Asia (including India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives) there are approximately 350 civil and para-public helicopters in use. Airbus estimates that fewer than 250 of them are operational in India.

There are about a hundred Airbus helicopters in India, mainly H125 and 130 models. The number of H125 helicopters in service worldwide is over 7,200.

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According to a company official, the base model of an H125 helicopter would cost around 3.2 million euros. Helicopters are used in India for tourism, pilgrimage, medical services, energy sector and private companies.

Once the FAL for H125 helicopters is established in India, the major components, avionics and mission systems will be integrated. Electrical wiring, hydraulic circuits, flight controls, dynamic components, fuel system and engine will also be installed.

According to a company official, the base model of an H125 helicopter would cost around 3.2 million euros. Helicopters are used in India for tourism, pilgrimage, medical services, energy sector and private companies.

Once the FAL for H125 helicopters is established in India, the major components, avionics and mission systems will be integrated. Electrical wiring, hydraulic circuits, flight controls, dynamic components, fuel system and engine will also be installed.