A sleeping tiger for many years, Asia’s lively economic growth is set to result in a marked increase in the demand for helicopters.

Asia is the continent deserving of all superlatives. It is currently home to approximately half the world’s population and contains two demographic giants: India to the west and China to the east. The very strong economic growth recorded over the last few years – varying from 6% to 11% depending on the country – is equally astonishing, and this growth has a direct influence on the demand for helicopters.
Notwithstanding Japan, where use of the helicopter is already as widespread as it is in Western countries, demand is frenzied in all the other Asian markets. Admittedly operators are almost starting their fleets from scratch but, in most markets, these fleets are increasing by approximately 20% a year.
“The role of the helicopter was traditionally confined to military missions, but now it is taking the civil and parapublic domain in Asia by storm,” reveals Norbert Ducrot, Senior Vice President Asia-Pacific. “Every sector of the market is affected by this growth: From EMS to VIP transportation, to law enforcement operations and even fire and rescue services, which are buying helicopters to respond to natural disasters.”
Then, of course, there is the oil & gas industry, which is currently leading the dance due to its enormous capacity for investment. In India, China, or even Vietnam, the need for helicopters to provide offshore transportation is rising steeply, resulting in record numbers of orders (see inset).

Potential and Barriers
Geography also plays a role in terms of the need for helicopters: As Asia has always looked to the sea and is highly dependent on shipping, helicopters are increasingly in demand to patrol coastlines and maritime transportation routes, and to perform safer rescues at sea. This applies to everyone: The island nations (such as Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines) along with countries like Thailand or China. Moreover, the armed forces urgently require helicopters to perform rescues at sea, to clear mines and to combat piracy.
The demand is huge, but barriers still remain that prevent helicopters from performing the full range of their civil applications. In China, the main obstacle is the strict control that the military authorities exercise on the low altitude airspace, which de facto restricts the use of helicopters. In the last few years, the high altitude airspace has opened up, which has had an exponential effect on the increase in commercial aviation. A low altitude airspace may be opened between now and 2010, which would lead to an explosion in the demand for helicopters. And something similar is also expected to happen in India where the restrictions are less severe, but the need for greater flexibility in terms of airspace is still pressing. Helicopter-related infrastructures must also be developed as heliports, maintenance centers and pilot training schools are thin on the ground. Much work therefore needs to be done: This great democracy has a billion inhabitants but, for the moment, only 200 civil helicopters!
“There is tremendous potential for development over the next five years,” emphasizes Norbert Ducrot. “In India, as well as in other regional markets, Eurocopter needs to position itself now, so we are ready when the barriers come down and the markets completely open up.”