Deliveries of civil turbine helicopters will recover slowly until they exceed their 2008 peak in 2018 and then reach a demand plateau, according to the Teal Group’s rotorcraft market forecast covering 2013 through 2022. The study predicts that 10,300 civil turbine helicopters worth $60.3 billion will enter service during that period.
Eurocopter will retain the number-one position in value, with AgustaWestland hot on its heels; Bell, at number three, will outsell Sikorsky, says Teal. Demand is driven by high oil prices and a growing need for transportation to offshore rigs, according to analyst Richard Aboulafia. On the supply side, he noted “a proliferation of super-medium twin-engine models entering service in the coming years.” In fact, three of the big four manufacturers are developing helicopters for that segment. Therefore, even if oil prices stay high, there are legitimate concerns about overcapacity, Aboulafia asserted.
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