Ian Sheppard has acted as Editor International Show Editions for AIN since June 2013. Based in the Redhill, England, Ian reports for the various AIN publications as well as providing support to International Editor Charles Alcock in covering international air shows (such as Farnborough, Paris, Singapore and Dubai), and the EBACE and MEBA business aviation events. His central role is to cover Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Prior to becoming more involved with AIN in mid-2011 (initially as deputy international editor), Ian worked for various aviation publications through his company, First Aerospace Media. This included being part of the AIN team covering daily news at international air shows.
Ian has worked for publications such as Flight International (technical reporter, 1997-8) and Aerospace International (editor, 1999-2000). He was publications manager at Airclaims (Ascend) between 2000 and 2004 before forming First Aerospace Media. Since mid-2009 Ian has also been managing editor of Regional International, the journal of the European Regions Airline Association (ERA).
Ian hasis working towards a European commercial pilot licence, having held an FAA private pilot license in 1991, and instructor rating. He also has a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Bath, England, and a graduate diploma in law from Kingston University, and is a graduate of the legal practice course (College of Law, Guildford).

Editor

Ian Sheppard

Airbus Helicopters (Booth Z58) does not expect the helicopter market, which has contracted significantly over the past three years, to recover in 2017. The rotorcraft manufacturer does believe things will improve in 2018, with growth expected in 2019 (200 aircraft) and further boosted in 2024 (300 aircraft). The fleet will double, Airbus believes, in 10 years and approximately triple over the next 20 years, with strong drivers being Western European and U.S. renewals and Asian growth. However, for now the company is keeping active fulfilling its orders and picking up some new ones, while focusing on improving quality.


Fred Lemos, global head of private and business aviation Europe, told reporters during an open day at its London Oxford Airport UK base on April 19 that the global fleet was now 4,000 helicopters, but values were at their lowest levels since 2008 (down some 12 percent). Private and business aviation (PBA) accounts for 103 (down from 200 in 2012), or 82 aircraft excluding those rated at less than 1.3 metric tons.


Lemos said Airbus has 59 percent of the civil and parapublic market (303 helicopters) and 33 percent of the PBA market (aircraft greater than 1.3 metric tons). He noted that the light-single market (occupied by the likes of the Robinson 66 and Guimbal Cabri G2) was “not a target” for Airbus.


He profiled the typical PBA user as averaging 100 flight hours a year, with short flights of 30 minutes to 1.5 hours being the norm. “Although they prefer to buy new, the ownership period lasts eight years, although owners generally prefer to limit ownership to five years.”


Quality Drive


Airbus Helicopters is putting a major focus on quality, in an attempt to “differentiate” itself from competitors. This supports resale value, while also catering to customers used to quality jet and yacht interiors. The H135 and H145 helicopters are “increasingly attractive” to yacht owners due to their compatibility with thevessels, said Lemos.


The Airbus HCare support and services package also helps lower maintenance cost and maximize resale value.


Recent deliveries completed by the European manufacturer include the first H175 VIP delivery (yacht configured) and the first H145 Mercedes-Benz (which was a new H145 T2 variant). This year’s highlights will include the new H160 VIP, the first Helionix-equipped H135 VIP delivery and the second H175 VIP delivery.


During the visit to Oxford Airport, journalists were given a demonstration of the Helionix digital avionics fixed-base trainer. The new flight deck, produced in-house, is clearly highly automated, but intuitive, and can be installed with from one to four screens. The suite is expected to be installed on the entire Airbus Helicopters model family in a few years.


The cockpit’s automatic flight control system is based on the EC225 autopilot, providing “complete control” over the flight envelope. It also has redundancy built in such that any malfunction leads to automatic reconfiguration without the pilot's intervention. Helionix is currently certified for the EC175 and EC145 T2.

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