Airbus Helicopters is about to cash-in a big bet. In late June the company received FAA certification for its H160 medium-class twin—exactly three years after it received EASA certification and eight years after the helicopter was first announced as a replacement for the company's AS365 and H155.
The approval clears the way for deliveries into the U.S. where Sikorsky has discontinued manufacture of the S-76D medium twin, which presents an opportunity. But the larger question is, can the H160 credibly challenge Leonardo’s slightly larger and market-leading AW139 intermediate twin across its broad mission spectrum, from offshore energy to air ambulance and even some military applications? Airbus thinks so. The H160’s overall maintenance costs will be more in line with that of a light twin than a medium one; and its comparatively lighter weight and greater efficiency, an estimated 15 to 20 percent better than the AW139’s, will resonate with buyers.
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