Taking flight

An Ask the Expert feature with EuroCopter

Business leaders are increasingly opting to take to the skies in a helicopter for a speedy and convenient journey, says Eurocopter’s Xavier Hay.

“Across the UAE more and more events, particularly sporting events, are being held, which has created a need for this type of helicopter”
-Xavier Hay

Helicopters are not competing with aircraft in the business aviation market, instead they are complementing the business jet service, as they are the vital component to the last leg of a clients’ journey. Across the UAE and Qatar, for example, civil aviation is becoming more developed and the helicopter has become the link needed for shuttling people between cities and airports. There is little point in an owner or a corporate travel operator spending US$50 million on a time-saving business jet and then expecting clients to sit in the Dubai traffic when leaving the airport.

Historically, the region was oriented towards the governmental market and for the past three decades this has been true. But since 2000, we have seen a growth in civilian operations, primarily for tourism and corporate travel. In the Arab world, out of the 650 helicopters in operation, roughly 15 percent of the total fleet is controlled by helicopters used for VIP and corporate purposes, which is quite significant.

It is true that in some countries use of civilian helicopters is non-existent, but in the UAE it is a growing market, particularly in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. In the Gulf  Eurocopter sells most of its models for VIP and corporate use into the UAE market. This is in line with expansion of companies such as Dubai Air Wing or Falcon Aviation. A popular model is the Dauphin N3; it has capacity for five to 10 passengers. Falcon also operates extensively the EC130, which has a silent rotor and is ideal for shuttling passengers between these two cities or flying over the Palm and The World. The EC155 has a larger cabin than the other models, but is also becoming popular for use in the business aviation sector. And very soon the EC135 Hermès – a top-notched combination of elegance and technology - will also be available in the UAE.

Additional new streams of business are emerging too. For instance, Helidubai, a prime VIP helicopter service provider in the Middle East, recently purchased the 350B3, which integrates filming technology on board. Across the UAE more and more events, particularly sporting events, are being held, which has created a need for this type of helicopter. The 350B3 has a very stable platform and a low vibration level, which creates better results from live filming equipment.

We have also seen a major need for helicopters in emergency medical services (EMS) across the region. We pioneered the Fenestron system, which enhances the safety of a helicopter by enabling it to glide and be controlled at low altitudes. We have also advanced the use of composite materials like carbon fibre. This contributes to lower maintenance costs by reducing the risk of the helicopters blades cracking and corroding over time.

In addition, environmental advancements are being made. Noise pollution has been improved by the development of a silent rotor system. The EC130 and 135 are below the recommended ICAO levels for noise emission and we are working closely with engine manufacturers to improve the fuel efficiency of all our models. All-weather-flight capabilities are also being looked at, so that areas across the region which currently have difficulty receiving helicopters can be accessed more easily, using newly developed avionic systems that are integrated into the helicopter’s cockpit. Of course, the industry has to be very cautious of the economic slowdown and we are waiting to see what the impact will be in the UAE and the Middle East region as a whole. There will inevitably be some level of impact, but even if the business aviation sector is affected we are optimistic for the future.

Xavier Hay, VP of Middle East and Africa Sales and Customer Relations at Eurocopter, was appointed to this strategic position in 2001 to lead a dynamic team of 25 managers. Hay, 46, is passionate about aeronautics and is a graduate of a French Business School.