Thierry Dubois is a freelance writer specializing in helicopters, business aviation and aerospace technology. He earned a degree in fluid dynamics from an engineering school in Toulouse, France in the mid-1990s. At an unexpected crossroads, he found his first job in journalism. In 1997, he started working for French aerospace weekly Air &amp; Cosmos in Paris. This lasted until 2000, when he moved south to Lyons. He then became a freelancer, working for various aerospace publications and has been part of the AIN team since late 2000. In addition to writing about business aviation, Thierry shares responsibility for the rotorcraft section. He also is a regular on-site writer for AIN’s daily editions at international airshows such as the Paris, Farnborough, Dubai and Singapore shows, as well as at EBACE in Geneva.
In 2007, he won the Honeywell award for “Best systems or technology submission” at the Aerospace journalist of the year awards. In 2013, he won an Aerospace Media Award for the "Best Safety, Training &amp; Simulation Submission."
In other activities, Thierry moderates international conferences on aviation technology topics. Thierry is married and has three children, who seem to begin enjoying the mountains–as their parents do.

Writer

Thierry Dubois

Chinese domestic production of civil helicopters is set to grow, but not as quickly as the country’s authorities predict, according to a local market analyst. Matthieu Devoisselle, co-founder of Avia-Tek, a Shanghai-based aerospace consultancy firm specializing in emerging countries, regards government forecasts as unrealistic. But Chinese manufacturer Avicopter does have reason to be optimistic, he adds.


The government predicts that 3,000 helicopters will be flying in China by 2020. Meanwhile, despite Tianjin-based Avicopter’s declared goal of increasing production by 17 percent each year, “Avicopter is not going to meet its goals for local and export market share,” Devoisselle told AIN. Avia-Tek expects domestic rotorcraft production to increase from CNY1 billion ($158 million) this year to about CNY1.3 billion ($206 million) in 2020.


Overall fleet growth will probably benefit Eurocopter and Bell first, Devoisselle estimates, pointing out that Bell has pursued sales aggressively in the last 12 months. Chinese civil helicopter production will remain negligible compared to the company’s military output, Devoisselle said.


But Avicopter’s civil side seems to be making progress, according to Devoisselle, “and quality is improving.” For example, the <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ainalerts/2012-01-05/china-certifies-avics-heavy-lift-ac313-helo">AC313</a>, a heavy twin developed from the Aerospatiale Super Frelon, “will face no major issue in getting FAA certification.” In June, the civil aviation administration of China (CAAC) <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/2012-07-05/chinese-made-light-single-helo-lands-caac-approval">certified the Avicopter AC311</a> light single. The China Intellectual Property Bureau accepted the design patent applications.


Simultaneously, the company announced the sale of 62 Air Sprites, as the AC311 is now known, to Shaanxi Investment &amp; Development, Air China International Aviation Development, China Aviation Technology Import &amp; Export (Catic) and China Feilong General Aviation. These four companies all have shareholding links with Avicopter, Devoisselle pointed out: “Avicopter is generating its own orders to create a momentum.”


The AC311 is expected to account for 35 percent of Avicopter’s production in the medium term. Between 2012 and 2022, some 60 percent of all helicopter deliveries in China will be for this class of aircraft, according to Avia-Tek’s analysis. Despite strong foreign competition in the Chinese market, Devoisselle sees the Air Sprite as becoming Avicopter’s most successful program.


China’s civil fleet stands at 305 helicopters. Sikorsky has the greatest market share, notably thanks to piston singles. Along with Robinsons, they are used for training, aerial work and in flying clubs, Devoisselle noted.

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