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Jun
08
2026
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Posted 1 hour ago ago by Admin
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Airbus Helicopter briefings take place in Marignane, France. The 2026 briefing was similar to past years with highly qualified and eloquent program managers introducing and discussing updates to the lines and the timing of new product releases. The leaders exhibited confidence and calm with a focus on mission-ready products. While they introduced the elegant ACH140, featuring smartly designed, deep, modular cabinets and panoramic windows, the overall primary briefing focus was on rugged, use-based helicopters.
Airbus Helicopters featured the H140, ACH140, H160, and the Guimbal Cabri G5, which is a new light turbine helicopter. The presentations, focused on production dates, secured customers, interiors, avionics and operational customers. Here’s a report on each version and its key attributes from the February 2026 session. The rest of the pre-VERTICON preview meeting was punctuated by a customer support and services update and a briefing on the NextGen Factory.
H140 Update
The focus of the H140 has been on helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) since the beginning. It is easy to envision the smooth lines and wide, shaded windows appearing in a James Bond serial, but ultimately, it is a life-saving machine that premiered at VERTICON in March 2025. This year has been declared “the year of testing” for the aircraft, with orders being secured for a 2028 release. “Today there are more than 100 commitments, 61 of which are firm contracts. The H140 is the most successful light twin from a sales standpoint in the lineup of Airbus helicopters,” said Dirk Petry, program director of the H140.
Currently, three prototypes are flying in high-and-hot weather conditions in Spain and France, with temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) and elevations up to 10,000 feet. They have also conducted cold-weather, snow, and high-wind testing in Finland and Norway. They seek to verify the performance down to -40 degrees Celcius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit) and in heavy snow conditions, which was accomplished in Norway. Components testing continues on the H140 prototypes. Dirk Petry, program director of the H140, said the helicopter is “highly desired in this market.” Fuel system testing for crashworthiness and EASA testing have occurred on PT2. PT3 was released in August 2025. Airbus said they have over 60% market share in the HEMS market. A fourth prototype will be released in winter 2026/2027 and is being prepared for assembly. The segment of helicopters will be released over five years, from HEMS/Air Medical to passenger transport, an Airbus Corporate Helicopter (ACH) line that seats six passengers, offshore/utility/harbor/oil and gas, and a final version in 2031/32.
ACH140 Corporate
Spring 2026 marked the announced launch of the ACH140, a new corporate helicopter scheduled for service in 2030. Frederic Lemos, head of corporate helicopters-ACH, said the ACH140 is the “birth of an icon” for the business aviation segment. His insight is that they are creating design solutions for their clientele. “What we sell are solutions to specific operations; to be able to be where it matters, when it matters.” They plan to sell initial products in Latin America, the United States, and Europe. “When we look at the aircraft, we believe it will be a game changer. The aircraft design is stylish, with a signature diamond shape and breakthrough design for this market segment, featuring a five-rotor system. The ride will be exceptionally smooth. We have designed around the customer experience,” he said. The cabin is modern and spacious, and Lemos said this version will reflect a new DNA and “style language.”
The T-Tail with Fenestron, enclosed tail rotor, provides safety and encapsulation of an anti-torque tail rotor with eight blades. For a sophisticated experience, they have partnered with Mercedes-Benz and Aston Martin for higher-end interiors. Designed with the passenger experience in mind, the ACH140 will feature large passenger windows, high ceilings, smooth finishes, precision-molded storage solutions, panoramic views, ergonomic seating, and different modular layouts with cabin set-ups. In the interior, seating features long, vertical lines and shapes that indicate upward motion. They are leveraging previous proven tech from the H135 and their test labs. Finally, the aircraft will feature larger sliding doors for loading people and objects with ease.
H160
This helicopter was designed for the energy sector, law enforcement and public service, and is ready to take flight. They have worldwide orders that continue to increase, and are soon adding Mexico and Brazil to their outgoing orders. They sold 30 aircraft in 2025 and plan to produce 40 aircraft annually initially, increasing to 60 once the supply chain stabilizes. The H160 is versatile, already showing up in energy, medical, and passenger transportation applications. In the public service realm, they currently serve the New York State Police, Japan’s National Police Agency (NPA), and the French navy, customs, and Gendarmerie Nationale.
The French navy is currently operating six H160s and has provided excellent feedback on the helicopter's performance in its lifesaving missions. In Japan, the Hiroshima City Fire Services and Nagoya City Fire Bureau are early adopters of the product. This placement includes disaster response and other missions. They spent four weeks in Australia, and Linfox has led the pack with the first H160 purchase for passenger transport. They spent time with doctors on the flight, receiving feedback on the space available for patient care. Benoit Klein, head of the program for H160, said, “It is easy to fly, easy to maintain, and easy to operate." They have performed flight maintenance at 900 hours as expected. Regarding the military, they have performed 72 flight hours and have addressed configuration, autopilot, and vibration issues. Airbus’s customer service and support division is stocked up and ready to support customers with the product, offering operator webinars and Q&As.
Regarding continuous improvement, they disclosed significant gains in safety, flexibility, and mission performance. The main rotor gearbox overhaul time will be extended to 3,000 flight hours in March of this year and tentatively in September 2026 for FAA-certified aircraft in the U.S. For flexibility and missions, they worked with the U.S.- based Metro Aviation on an EMS kit with stretcher systems. They will continue to test aerial firefighting capability in summer 2026.
Grand Cabri G5
The Grand Cabri G5 is a new light turbine helicopter using the Safran Arrius 2D Turbine engine. Helicopteres Guimbal, known as the “little big helicopter,” a company located in Les Milles, France, has released a new Grand Cabri G5 helicopter that will use the 450 shp Arrius 2D engine from Safran, a proven, reliable powerplant popular for light helicopters. The Arrius 2D features advanced technology, a dual-channel FADEC to reduce pilot workload, and a 3,000-hour time between overhaul (TBO). The engine’s integration ensures high performance and safety, while operators benefit from Safran’s global support network. The Grand Cabri G5 bridges the gap between the training-focused Cabri G2 and larger single-turbine helicopters, expanding options for civilian and military missions. Guimbal’s president and majority shareholder, Bruno Guimbal, expressed confidence in the engine and excitement for the new aircraft.
Customer Support & Services
Romain Trapp, EVP of customer support and services, presented their 2026 objectives for customer services and support ahead of Verticon 2026. The primary objective for this department is to be the best in the industry for customer satisfaction. He said, “We are in a growing market.” They measure satisfaction annually, and outside 2023, their satisfaction scores have continued to rise. Their strategy is supported by three pillars: be a reliable supplier, be a strategic partner, and be customer-centric. They are managing this foundation by providing more parts, including reconditioned parts; offering more new platforms; improving supply-chain management; and enhancing information reliability. Two and a half years ago, they decided to purchase under-market H120 aircraft, harvest parts from the 51 aircraft, and recondition those parts for sale. This program has expanded into H125, H135, H145, and more. In 2026, they plan to buy 15 more aircraft across all types. This effort is driven by a need to rapidly provide parts, as new parts are not always an option. Airbus has over 12,000 helicopters in service today in 150 countries, with 90 service centers, and nearly 3,000 helicopters covered under global service contracts. Worldwide, Airbus offers service in Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, and throughout the Americas. Their in-service helicopters are 23% military, and 77% civilian. Airbus has trained over 250,000 pilots to date.
NextGen Factory Launch
Airbus Helicopters has launched a 10-year, $260 million NextGen Factory in Marignane, France, to redevelop the 80-year-old site. The new facility will be 334,000 square feet. Futuristic plans follow the France 2030 program, which focuses on country-wide strategic investment in industry, innovation, and ecology.
The NextGen Factory will model 4.0 technology and demonstrate modern machining for manufacturing items such as rotors, transmissions, and other helicopter components. Construction began in early February 2026. Because France 2030 is focused on ecology, it will follow environmental standards to decarbonize manufacturing while promoting sustainable practices.
Airbus Helicopters is the third-largest employer in Marignane, near Marseille, with 12,500 employees. Airbus Helicopters President Bruno Even said, “The facility investment will guarantee the long-term competitiveness of our industrial facilities and continue to innovate to offer solutions adapted to the needs of our customers. Innovations may inform the helicopter and aerospace supply chain in France and beyond, ultimately reducing parts delivery times.”
Sécurité Civile helicopter operations
As Airbus Helicopters is a French company, it has committed to the health and safety of French citizens through its H145 helicopter. The Sécurité Civile operates a headquarters and 23 nationwide bases to provide search and rescue, emergency medical services, aerial firefighting, and mission work in the mountains and at sea. The mandate is through the General Directorate for Civil Defense and Crisis Management, via the Ministry of the Interior, in the French government. They also have two fixed-wing aircraft at their headquarters location.
The operation has 300 personnel, 100 pilots, 100 flight engineers, and 100 mechanics. They have 23 bases in France and in French-controlled territories. Airbus Helicopters has contracted to support the fleet of the H145 family of helicopters for this operation.
Their objective is to “go where any other helicopter can’t go.” They take calls from firefighters, ship captains, and others on land and at sea who need support. They provide extensive training, lasting 17-24 weeks, for both experienced and rookie pilots. Because they fly in all conditions, they are trained on managing all situations. They also have hoist and night-vision goggle capability. A cumulative total of 18,500 missions were conducted in 2025.
Summary
This year for Airbus continues to offer powerful mission-ready helicopter solutions. They are taking into account responsiveness through customer service and parts availability. The company is innovating new aircraft with cutting-edge technology. Ultimately, the Airbus leadership imbues professionalism, thoughtfulness, and confidence. Their investments in technology prove they are ready to answer the call for civil and public service, aerial firefighting, military, and search and rescue with an eye on comprehensive testing and safety.
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