Rolls-Royce Worldwide Turbine Helicopter Forecast Predicts Civil Deliveries To Increase By Up To 50 Per Cent.

HOUSTON -- Rolls-Royce, which offers the broadest range of turboshaft engines for helicopters in the world, today forecast an increase in the civil helicopter business when it announced its annual ten-year forecast of worldwide turbine helicopter deliveries.

Ken Roberts, Acting President of the Rolls-Royce Helicopter business, said: "The projection of deliveries for the next ten years shows an industry operating at levels approaching capacity. This is due to two reasons, the highly successful sales figures from 2006 and 2007, and the ramping-up of military programs awarded in the last several years."

He also believes that the new, light, single-engine turbine helicopter market is about to expand, with entries like the R66 offering turbine performance at prices well below the current entry-level units.

The Rolls-Royce forecast projects deliveries of 15,711 turbine helicopters, valued at $141 billion for the airframes, and $13.3 billion for engines during the ten year period 2008-2017.

The civil unit forecast has increased nearly 50 per cent compared to the previous projection, primarily due to new entry-level turbine helicopters. It now stands at over 9,095 civil helicopters to be delivered during the period, with an overall airframe value of $31.5 billion and engine value of $4.2 billion.

"Clearly, the public is seeing a benefit from helicopter usage, with the oil and gas industry, police, air ambulance and private owners all looking for new, purpose-built aircraft," said Roberts.

The Rolls-Royce forecast also projects 6,616 new military helicopter deliveries during the ten year period, with an airframe value of $109.7 billion and installed engine value of $9.1 billion.

Over half of all units delivered will be multi-engine medium rotorcraft, primarily troop transport and maritime patrol. Ten per cent will be intermediate twins, such as light attack and tactical utility helicopters, and nine per cent will be single-engine aircraft such as armed reconnaissance helicopters.

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