Eurocopter To Sell Super Puma Range In India

Eurocopter, a joint venture of Aerospatiale and DASA, is planning to launch its Super Puma range of heavy category helicopters in India.

The company already sells its Dauphin and Ecureuil brands in the country through Sofema, its sales representative.

The clients of the company include Sahara India, Essar, Gas Authority of India, governments of Bihar, Gujarat and Karnataka, Mesco, Pawan Hans, Raymond's Million Air and Delhi Gulf's Ace airways.

The company has signed an agreement with the Karnataka government this year for the supply of its Dauphin range.

The new heavy range _ Super Puma MK1 and Super Puma MK2 _ is expected to be sold for offshore operations, according to the regional sales director for Asia Pacific, Luisa Alberti. The MK1 is a medium weight helicopter for offshore rig liaison, aerial work and VIP transportation.

 

It can carry 20 passengers with 2 pilots or weight of up to 4,500 kg. The fast cruise speed at maximum weight is 262 km/hour.

The MK2 is a transport helicopter with enhanced performance and advanced technology for offshore transportation and can carry up to 24 passengers with 2 pilots or a weight of up to 5,000 kg. Its fast cruise speed is higher at 278 km/hour at maximum weight.

At present, the company sells around 36 light and medium range helicopters (Dauphins and Ecureuil) in India.

The company holds 39 per cent of the market in India, its main competitors being Bell helicopters, Russian firms and the Cheetah and Chetak range of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

Over 500 Cheetah and Chetak helicopters have been manufactured by HAL under a licence agreement with Aerospatiale, which holds 70 per cent equity in Eurocopter.

Its product range accounts for 55 per cent of the market share in the Indian offshore business and 58 per cent in the Indian charter business.

Alberti said that the Indian helicopter market is still nascent and that substantial growth in this region is expected.

India is one of the markets that the company plans to target aggressively in the region, she added.

The Asia Pacific region accounts for 41 per cent of the total aircraft of the company that are currently flying.

The company has sold around 10,888 helicopters in 130 countries with a turnover of US $ 1.8 billion in 1997 of which 8318 are currently flying.

The company is also keen to market a new range Colibri in India but the aircraft have a long lead time of around 46 months before delivery.