Airbus Helicopters’ financial performance was revealed last week when parent Airbus Group disclosed its 2014 results. Overall, the division recorded net orders for 369 helicopters, with 33 cancellations eroding the 402 gross sales. The slightly declining net order intake was valued at €5.5 billion ($6.2 billion).
Backlog as of December 31 showed a similar evolution at €12.2 billion ($13.7 billion). This represented almost two years of production, as last year’s revenues amounted to €6.5 billion ($7.3 billion), a slight increase. Earnings amounted to €413 million ($463 million), another modest improvement. Meanwhile, research and development spending stayed on an ascending curve, at €325 million ($364 million).
Tomorrow morning at Heli-Expo 2015, the company will unveil the X4 medium twin, a replacement for the AS365/EC155 Dauphin family. The latest teasing image suggests the X4 will sport an innovative biplane stabilizer, swept-tip Blue Edge main rotor blades for quieter operation and the manufacturer's signature Fenestron shrouded tail rotor, which might be canted.
Airbus Helicopters CEO Guillaume Faury earlier said the new helicopter will re-use the in-house-developed Helionix avionics suite. Power-on was achieved late last year and the first flight is slated for this year.
