Eurocopter India, a subsidiary of Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group, is bullish on the Indian helicopter market and aims to reach the top slot in the next five years time, a top company executive said today.
Eurocopter India CEO Xavier Hay today said that at present the company holds 35% shares of the Indian chopper market after its competitor Texas-based Bell Helicopter, which enjoys No 1 position with 45% share.
"Today we are currently in number two position with 35% market share and they (Bell) have 45%. We want to be in number one position in the next five years with the development of new markets such as Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and law enforcing agencies," Hay told reporters at a press conference.
At present, Eurocopter has 29 customers, operating 80 helicopters in the civilian market with a total 500,000 flight hours and 360 helicopters in the military market in India.
Replying to query on the some of the regulatory bottlenecks in the expansion of markets, he said currently it takes 48 hours to get the takeoff or landing clearance from the authorities in case of EMS. He hoped that there will be some relaxation in the future.
Quoting aviation regulator DGCA records, he said that Eurocopter India delivered nine brand new turbine helicopters, out of a total of 14 registered last year with DGCA, representing a 65% market share.
Out of the nine aircraft delivered, five were twin-engine helicopters, with the remaining four being single-engine AS350 B3, he added.
He added Eurocopter also focused on developing its support and services offerings, where customers would be able to access a full suite of services from spare parts supply and technical assistance to training, retrofits and customisation anywhere in India.
In addition, the chopper maker is also expanding its network of Eurocopter-approved maintenance centres, adding Bangalore to the two existing facilities in New Delhi and Mumbai.
Hay forecast the chopper market in India will be doubled by 2015 to a total of 500 choppers.
"We (Eurocopter) are currently growing 20% annually. This is challenging for Eurocopter and India as well to double the market in four to five years. It is a bit difficult to envisage target and forecast which segment is viable and grow," he said.
Eurocopter will be displaying models from its two renowned helicopter families –- Ecureuil and Dauphin -- in India Aviation 2012 event, which will begin from tomorrow.
