Fleet Rationalization, Ongoing Renewal Cycles Cited As Factors

Increasing rationalization of helicopter fleets and the adoption of a "one-size-fits-all" approach to reduce costs and enhance platform capabilities is driving the global military, parapublic and commercial helicopter systems market. Advances such as increasing platform speed range, flight control reliability, mission responsiveness rates, efficiency, and platform versatility coupled with decreasing fuel consumption and refueling frequency, further encourage helicopter systems uptake.

Ongoing helicopter fleet renewal cycles, especially in the military segment, are spurring the demand for new platforms. In fact, procurements in Asia-Pacific, Central Asia and the Middle-East will take the collective market size up to $49.14 billion by 2022. Meanwhile, North America, Europe and Latin America offer immense market potential for platform mid-life upgrades, which will account for 23.1 percent of the total market by 2022.

"Demand from cost-conscious customers looking to reduce maintenance costs and execute fleet optimization plans is fuelling the market for helicopter systems globally," said Frost & Sullivan Aerospace & Defense Research Analyst Alix Leboulanger. "End users perceive helicopter systems as a means to bridge the gap between ageing platforms and delayed new procurements."

However, the high costs of system acquisition and integration remain a drawback in the face of tight budgets. End users are reviewing their priorities in terms of new procurements and certain military programs have been put on hold. Consequently, revenue opportunities from upgrades seem more promising, although small-volume orders are likely.

Civilian customers using traditionally military equipment, such as night vision goggles, are facing the double challenge of acquiring new, advanced systems and then integrating them with existing platforms. The ensuing need to modify existing systems and provide additional training for pilots and personnel has deterred market investments from non-military end users.

"Regulations pose another obstacle to the military-civil convergence trend. Dual-use certification for systems to be employed by both military and non-military end users is not yet in place due to growing embargoes and military export concerns" remarked Alix Leboulanger. "Civilian airspace regulations, such as weather minima or air traffic management, must be reviewed to enable non-military pilots to use advanced tools while maintaining high flight safety standards."

(Images from file)

FMI: www.frost.com