View source for Company:Airbus Helicopters

{{Short description|Helicopter manufacturing division of Airbus}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Airbus Helicopters SAS
| logo = File:Airbus Logo 2017.svg
| logo_size = 250px
| type = Operating [[Finance:Division (business)|Division]]
| industry = [[Earth:Aerospace manufacturer|Aerospace]]
| founded = {{start date and age|1992}}
| location = Marseille Provence Airport<br />Marignane, {{wipe|France}}
| key_people = Bruno Even ([[Company:CEO|CEO]])<ref name="beven">{{cite press release| url=https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2018/02/bruno-even-appointed-ceo-of-airbus-helicopters-.html| title=Bruno Even Appointed CEO of Airbus Helicopters| date=14 February 2018| website=airbus.com}}</ref>
| products = [[Engineering:Helicopter|Helicopter]]s
| revenue = {{profit}} €6.5&nbsp;billion <small>(2021)</small><ref name="FY21">{{cite web |url=https://www.airbus.com/sites/g/files/jlcbta136/files/2022-03/AIRBUS%20FY2021%20FINANCIAL%20STATEMENTS%20DS.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418085151/https://www.airbus.com/sites/g/files/jlcbta136/files/2022-03/AIRBUS%20FY2021%20FINANCIAL%20STATEMENTS%20DS.pdf |archive-date=2022-04-18 |title=2021 Financial Statements |date= |access-date=July 29, 2022 |publication-date= | orig-date= |publisher=Airbus IR |website= |pages=25, 46 |lang=en |format= |url-status= |url-access=}}</ref>
| revenue_year = 
| operating_income = {{profit}} €535&nbsp;million <small>(2021)</small><ref name="FY21"/>
| net_income = 
| num_employees = 20,126 <small>(2021)</small><ref name="FY21"/>
| parent = [[Company:Airbus|Airbus]]
| subsid = [https://web.archive.org/web/20140115052008/http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/Airbus-Helicopter-Network-on-interactive-map_1290.html Subsidiaries]
| homepage = [https://www.airbus.com/en/products-services/helicopters www.airbus.com/en/products-services/helicopters ]
| footnotes = 
}}

'''Airbus Helicopters SAS''' (formerly '''Eurocopter Group''') is the helicopter manufacturing division of [[Company:Airbus|Airbus]]. It is the largest in the industry in terms of revenues and turbine helicopter deliveries. Its head office is located at Marseille Provence Airport in Marignane, {{wipe|France}}, near Marseille.<ref>"[http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/Terms-and-Conditions_338.html Legal Notice and Disclaimer] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112014015/http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/Terms-and-Conditions_338.html |date=12 January 2014 }}." Airbus Helicopters. Retrieved on 24 January 2014. "[...]whose registered Office is located Aéroport International Marseille-Provence – 13725 Marignane Cedex – France"</ref> The main facilities of Airbus Helicopters are at its headquarters in Marignane, France, and in Donauwörth, Germany, with additional production plants in {{wipe|Canada}}, {{wipe|Brazil}} (Helibras), {{wipe|Australia}}, {{wipe|Spain}}, Romania, the {{wipe|United Kingdom}} and the {{wipe|United States}}. The company, originally named ''Eurocopter'', was rebranded ''Airbus Helicopters'' on 2 January 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2013-08-01/eurocopter-be-renamed-airbus-helicopter |title=Eurocopter To Be Renamed Airbus Helicopter |last=Sheppard |first= Ian|date=2013-08-01 |website=AINonline |publisher=AIN Publications |access-date=2019-09-19 }}</ref>

==History==
Airbus Helicopters was formed in 1992 as '''Eurocopter Group''', through the merger of the helicopter divisions of Aérospatiale and DASA.  The company's heritage traces back to Blériot and Lioré et Olivier in France and to Messerschmitt and Focke-Wulf in Germany.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/History_24.html|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140114082556/http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/History_24.html|url-status=dead|title=Airbus Helicopters history|archive-date=14 January 2014}}</ref>

Airbus Helicopters and its predecessor companies have established a wide range of helicopter firsts, including the first production [[Engineering:Turboshaft|turboshaft]]-powered helicopter (the Aérospatiale Alouette II of 1955); the introduction of the [[Engineering:Fenestron|Fenestron]] shrouded tail rotor (on the Gazelle of 1968); the first helicopter certified for full flight in icing conditions (the AS332 Super Puma, in 1984); the first production helicopter with a [[Fly-by-wire]] control system (the [[Engineering:NHIndustries NH90|NHIndustries NH90]], first flown in full FBW mode in 2003); the first helicopter to use a [[Fly-by-wire#Fly-by-optics|Fly-by-light]] primary control system (an EC135 testbed, first flown in 2003); and the first ever landing of a helicopter on [[Earth:Mount Everest|Mount Everest]] (achieved by an AS350 B3 in 2005).<ref name=as350ng>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/0509/whats_new/helicopter_everest.html |title=Landing on Air |publisher=National Geographic Adventure |date=1 September 2005 |access-date=24 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802071837/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/0509/whats_new/helicopter_everest.html |archive-date=2 August 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.everestnews.com/stories2005/everestcopter05272005.htm|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20120224042457/http://www.everestnews.com/stories2005/everestcopter05272005.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 February 2012|title=Everest 2005: The Helicopter land on Everest with video: But it is good?|website=wayback.archive-it.org|access-date=2 April 2018}}</ref><ref name=everestnet>{{cite web|url=http://www.mounteverest.net/story/FrenchEverestMysteryChoppersUtopiasummit-VIDEOMay272005.shtml|title=French Everest Mystery Chopper's Utopia summit|publisher=MountEverest.net|date=27 May 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113192323/http://www.mounteverest.net/story/FrenchEverestMysteryChoppersUtopiasummit-VIDEOMay272005.shtml|archive-date=13 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

As a consequence of the merger of Airbus Helicopters' former parents in 2000, the firm is now a wholly owned subsidiary of [[Company:Airbus|Airbus]].  The creation of what was then called EADS in 2000 also incorporated CASA of Spain, which itself had a history of helicopter-related activities dating back to Talleres Loring, including local assembly of the [[Engineering:MBB Bo 105|Bo105]].

Today, Airbus Helicopters has four main plants in Europe (Marignane and La Courneuve in France, and Donauwörth and Kassel in Germany), plus 32 subsidiaries and participants around the world, including those in Fort Erie {{wipe|Canada}}, Brisbane, Australia, Albacete, Spain and Grand Prairie, USA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/Airbus-Helicopter-Network-on-interactive-map_1290.html?countryISO2=ES|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116083723/http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/Airbus-Helicopter-Network-on-interactive-map_1290.html?countryISO2=ES|url-status=dead|title=Airbus Helicopters – Spain|archivedate=16 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/Airbus-Helicopter-Network-on-interactive-map_1290.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115052008/http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/Airbus-Helicopter-Network-on-interactive-map_1290.html|url-status=dead|title=Airbus Helicopters – Interactive Network Map|archivedate=15 January 2014}}</ref>

Since approximately 2006, Eurocopter has been involved in the planning for the proposed pan-European Future Transport Helicopter project.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/ruestung-eu-beschliesst-bau-von-helikopter/3180012.html|title=Rüstung: EU beschließt Bau von Helikopter|access-date=2018-01-23|language=de|archive-date=16 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416204528/https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/ruestung-eu-beschliesst-bau-von-helikopter/3180012.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

As of 2014, more than 12,000 Airbus Helicopters were in service with over 3,000 customers in around 150 countries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/Who-We-Are_23-2.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114054045/http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/ref/Who-We-Are_23-2.html|url-status=dead|title=Airbus Helicopters – Who We are|archive-date=14 January 2014}}</ref> Euroopter became Airbus Helicopter at the start of 2014.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://www.airbus.com/en/who-we-are/our-history/helicopters-history/airbus-helicopters-takes-off-2012-2017 |access-date=2023-10-23 |website=www.airbus.com}}</ref>

Eurocopter sold 422 helicopters in 2013 and delivered 497 helicopters that year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/press/Airbus-Helicopters-aims-high-with-new-branding-and-a-strategic-transformation_1106.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203011704/http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/press/Airbus-Helicopters-aims-high-with-new-branding-and-a-strategic-transformation_1106.html|url-status=dead|title=Airbus Helicopters aims high with new branding and a strategic transformation|archive-date=3 February 2014}}</ref> In 2014, AH built a concrete cylinder for testing helicopters before first flight.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://helihub.com/2015/07/24/new-dynamic-testing-method-at-airbus-brings-helicopters-to-market-quickly/|title= New dynamic testing method at Airbus brings helicopters to market quickly|website= Helihub |date= 24 July 2015|access-date=2 April 2018}}</ref>

In December 2022, it was announced Airbus Helicopters has acquired the Kassel-Calden-headquartered gearbox and component supplier, ZF Luftfahrttechnik from [[Company:ZF Friedrichshafen|ZF Friedrichshafen]] for an undisclosed amount. The business will be rebranded as Airbus Helicopters Technik.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Perry |first=Dominic |date=January 3, 2023 |title=Airbus completes acquisition of gearbox supplier ZF Luftfahrttechnik |work=FlightGlobal |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopters/airbus-completes-acquisition-of-gearbox-supplier-zf-luftfahrttechnik/151505.article |access-date=January 3, 2023}}</ref>


===Historical emblems===
Historical emblems of the company:
<gallery widths="180" heights="80">
File:Eurocopter logo (1992–2000).svg|1992–2000
File:Eurocopter logo (2000–2010).svg|2000–2010
File:Eurocopter company logo.svg|2010–2014
File:Airbus Helicopters (formerly Eurocopter Group) logo.png|2014–2017
File:Airbus Logo 2017.svg|alt=Airbus common logo since June 2017|2017–present<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2017/07/airbus-flying-as-one.html|title=Flying as one: Fully integrated Airbus takes off|website=Airbus |access-date=2019-02-18}}</ref>
</gallery>

==Products==
Some of the helicopters were renamed in 2015, resembling Airbus airplane naming.<ref name=vert2015-04>{{cite news |url=http://www.verticalmag.com/digital_issue/2015/v14i2/files/40.html |title=Airbus renames fleet |page=36 |work=Vertical Magazine |date=April 2015 |access-date=11 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419023150/http://www.verticalmag.com/digital_issue/2015/v14i2/files/40.html |archive-date=19 April 2015  }}</ref>
When the division changed its name from Eurocopter Group to Airbus Helicopters in 2014 the trade names of the products were changed (applied by 1 January 2016) to reflect this. Suffixes, as well as the differentiation for single or twin engines, were no longer to be used. Military versions were to be symbolized by the letter M. The only exceptions to this new branding were the AS365, the AS565, the Tiger and the NH90, which will keep their current names.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airbushelicopters.com/w1/jrotor/100/sources/projet/pdfs/page7.pdf|website=www.airbushelicopters.com |title=History is written with an HI160|date=March 2015|access-date=2023-05-05}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Civil Range,<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.airbus.com/content/dam/corporate-topics/publications/brochures/Broch-CIVILRange-02-2018.pdf |title= Civil Range |publisher= Airbus Helicopters |date= 2018 |access-date= 20 February 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180811230158/https://www.airbus.com/content/dam/corporate-topics/publications/brochures/Broch-CIVILRange-02-2018.pdf |archive-date= 11 August 2018 |url-status= dead }}</ref> Military Range<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.airbus.com/content/dam/corporate-topics/publications/brochures/Brochure-MilitaryRange.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205072209/http://www.airbus.com/content/dam/corporate-topics/publications/brochures/Brochure-MilitaryRange.pdf |archive-date=2018-02-05 |url-status=live |title= Military Range |publisher= Airbus Helicopters |date= 2018}}</ref>
! Original name || New name || Deliveries || data-sort-type="number" | [[Engineering:Maximum takeoff weight|MTOW]] [t] || Powerplant || Capacity
|-
| colspan=2 |AS355 Écureuil 2     || 1975-2016 || 2.54 ||  2 × 420&nbsp;hp Allison 250 || 1 pilot + 5/6 passengers
|-
| EC120 Colibri B{{efn|with Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation}} || H120 || 1998-2017 || 1.715 || 1 × 500&nbsp;hp Arrius 2 || 1 pilot + 4 passengers
|-
| AS350 Écureuil (Squirrel) || H125 || 1975-present  || 2.25-2.8 ||  1 × 847&nbsp;hp Arriel || 1 pilot + 5/6 passengers
|-
| [[Engineering:Eurocopter Fennec|AS550 Fennec / AS555 Fennec 2]] || H125M || 1990-present || 2.25 || 1 × 850&nbsp;hp Arriel 2B || 2 pilots + 4 troops
|-
| EC130 (from AS350) || H130 || 2001-present || 2.5-3.05 ||  1 × 952&nbsp;hp Arriel 2B || 1 pilot + 6/7 passengers
|-
| EC135{{Efn|name=rot|developed in Germany, its [[Engineering:Helicopter rotor|rotor]] turns counter-clockwise when viewed from above like American rotorcraft, as opposed to other Airbus Helicopters designed in France, and Russian rotorcraft}}
| H135 || 1996-present || 2.98 || 2 × 627&nbsp;hp Arrius/PW206 || 1 pilot + 6/7 passengers
|-
| [[Engineering:Eurocopter EC635|EC635]] || H135M || 1998-present || 2.9 || 2 × 817&nbsp;hp PW206/Arrius 2B2 || 1 pilot + 8 troops 
|-
| EC145 (from BK 117)){{efn|name=rot}} || H145 || 2002-present || 3.7 || 2 × 1,072&nbsp;hp Arriel || 2 pilots + 10 passengers
|-
| EC645{{efn|[[Engineering:Eurocopter UH-72 Lakota|UH-72 Lakota]] for the US Army}}
| H145M || 2014-present || 3.7 || 2 × 782&nbsp;hp Arriel || 1/2 pilots + 10 troops
|-
| colspan=2 | AS365 Dauphin{{Efn|[[Engineering:Eurocopter HH-65 Dolphin|HH-65 Dolphin]] for the US Coast Guard, [[Engineering:Harbin Z-9|Harbin Z-9]] in China}}
| 1978-2022 || 4.3 || 2 × 961&nbsp;hp Arriel || 2 pilots + 12 passengers
|-
|  colspan=2 | [[Engineering:Eurocopter AS565 Panther|AS565 Panther]] || 1986-present || 4.3 || 2 × 1,129&nbsp;hp Arriel || 2 pilots + 10 troops
|-
| EC155 || H155  || 1999-present || 4.92 ||  2 × 1,053&nbsp;hp Arriel || 2 pilots + 13 passengers
|-
| X4 || H160 || 2019-present || 6.05 || 2 × 1,110-1,300&nbsp;hp Arrano || 2 pilots + 12 passengers
|-
| EC175 || H175 || 2014-present  || 7.8 || 2 × 2,067&nbsp;hp PT6 || 2 pilots + 16/18 passengers
|-
| AS332 Super Puma || H215 || 1980-present || 8.6-9.35 || 2 × 1,877&nbsp;hp Makila || 2 pilots + 15/19 passengers 
|-
| [[Engineering:Eurocopter AS532 Cougar|AS532 Cougar]] || H215M || 1978-present || 9-9.35 || 2 × 1,877&nbsp;hp Makila || 2 pilots + 24 troops + 1 chief
|-
| EC225 Super Puma || H225 || 2004-present  || 11-11.2 || 2 × 2,101&nbsp;hp Makila || 2 pilots + 19 passengers
|-
| [[Engineering:Eurocopter EC725|EC725 Caracal]]{{efn|KAI KUH-1 Surion in South Korea}}
| H225M || 2005-present || 11-11.2 || 2 × 2,382&nbsp;hp Makila || 2 pilots + 28 troops + 1 chief 
|-
| [[Engineering:NHIndustries NH90|NHIndustries NH90]]{{efn|via 62.5% share in NHIndustries joint venture}} || NH90 || 2006-present || 10.6-11 || 2 × 2,913&nbsp;hp [[Engineering:Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322|RTM 322]] / GE T700 || 2 pilots + 20 troops + 1 chief
|-
| [[Engineering:Eurocopter Tiger|EC665 Tiger]] || Tiger || 2003-present || 6.6 || 2 × 1,774&nbsp;hp [[Engineering:MTR MTR390|MTR390]] || 1 pilot + 1 gunner
|}

===Projects===
*X³ rotorcraft – hybrid helicopter with two forward propellers, which achieved a 255-knot speed milestone in level flight in June 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/press/Eurocopter-s-X3-hybrid-helicopter-makes-aviation-history-in-achieving-a-speed-milestone-of-255-knots-during-level-flight_1046.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527212324/http://www.airbushelicopters.com/site/en/press/Eurocopter-s-X3-hybrid-helicopter-makes-aviation-history-in-achieving-a-speed-milestone-of-255-knots-during-level-flight_1046.html|url-status=dead|title=Eurocopter's X3 hybrid helicopter makes aviation history in achieving a speed milestone of 255 knots during level flight|archive-date=27 May 2014}}</ref>
*[[Engineering:Airbus Helicopters X6|Airbus Helicopters X6]] – Two year concept study into the possible launch of an 11.5t helicopter to replace the H225.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/paris-airbus-helicopters-launches-x6-concept-phase-413665/|title=PARIS: Airbus Helicopters launches X6 concept phase|date=16 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.airbushelicopters.com/website/en/press/Airbus-Helicopters-launches-X6-concept-phase,-setting-the-standard-for-the-future-in-heavy-lift-rotorcraft_1771.html|title=Airbus Helicopters launches X6 concept phase, setting the standard for the future in heavy-lift rotorcraft|website=www.airbushelicopters.com|access-date=2016-07-08|date=16 March 2015}}</ref>
* Airbus RACER, experimental high-speed [[Engineering:Gyrodyne|compound helicopter]] developed from the X³, targeting a 2020 first flight.
* [[Engineering:Airbus CityAirbus|Airbus CityAirbus]], electrically powered [[Engineering:VTOL|VTOL]] aircraft demonstrator, intended for an air taxi role.

==Gallery==
{{clear}}
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Patrulla Aspa (9543712579).jpg|H120/EC120 Colibri
File:Eurocopter AS-350B-3 Ecureuil, Heli-Linth AN1174998.jpg|H125/AS350 Écureuil<br />''H125M/AS555 Fennec''
File:Eurocopter 130 SP-MTB 3 (modified).jpg|H130/EC 130
File:YSP EC135P2 JA02YP Maishima 20081018-001 (cropped).jpg|H135/EC135<br />''H135M/[[Engineering:Eurocopter EC635|EC635]]''
File:EC145 STAT Med (remix).jpg|H145/EC145<br />H145M/EC645/UH-72
File:04MAR - Formaiton Flight Nikon -8 (25576437476).jpg|AS365 Dauphin<br />''[[Engineering:Eurocopter AS565 Panther|AS565 Panther]]/HH-65/[[Engineering:Harbin Z-9|Z-9]]''
File:Eurocopter EC-155B-1 AN1222412.jpg|H155/EC155
File:Airbus Helicopters H160 (cropped).jpg|H160
File:Airbus H175 G-EMEC MG 6429 (29535221148).jpg|H175
File:Eurocopter EC-665 Tiger UHT, Germany - Army AN1547187.jpg|''EC-665 Tiger''
File:AS332M1 Super Puma - RIAT 2014 (center).jpg|H215/AS332 Super Puma<br />''H215M/AS532 Cougar''
File:78+29 German Army NHIndustries NH90 TTH ILA Berlin 2016 19.jpg|''NH90''
File:EC-725 Caracal - RIAT 2009 (484151112) (center).jpg|H225/EC225 Super Puma<br />''H225M/EC725 Caracal''
</gallery>

==See also==
Comparable major helicopter manufacturers:
* Leonardo S.p.A.
* Bell Helicopter
* Boeing Rotorcraft Systems
* MD Helicopters
* [[Company:Russian Helicopters|Russian Helicopters]]
* Sikorsky Aircraft

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Note===
{{Notelist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.airbuscorporatehelicopters.com Airbus Corporate Helicopters]
* [http://www.helibras.com.br/ Helibras]
* [http://www.helis.com/timeline/eurocopter.php Airbus Helicopters timeline at Helis.com]
* {{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-faury-leaves-airbus-helicopters-a-business-445493/ |title= Faury leaves Airbus Helicopters a business transformed |date= 20 February 2018 |author= Dominic Perry |work= Flightglobal}}

{{Airbus Group}}

[[Category:Military vehicle manufacturers]]

{{Sourceattribution|Airbus Helicopters}}