FLEET REPORT
HELI MARKET CONTINUES ITS HEALTHY GROWTH The latest summary of the worldwide active helicopter fleet from JetNet LLC has highlighted mixed fortunes for both piston and turbine operators with increases and decreases in numbers across all regions. Alan Norris reports with only 148 aircraft added to the civil fleet in comparison to the previous year’s figure of 461aircraft. Overall, the figures for piston engine versus turbine engine helicopter use also indicates that piston powered aircraft use is on the decline with a reduction in numbers by 120 aircraft, which represents a 1.25% decrease. In the piston sector, although Robinson numbers were down by 66 aircraft (0.8% from 2018), the company still outperformed both Enstrom and Schweizer. The R44 Raven II continues to have the highest number of
L ROTOR
The Sikorsky S-76D (top). Airbus Helicopters family (center). Weststar is the largest operator of AW139 in Asia (below).
ooking at the figures released by JetNet LLC, obtained from a wide network of data sources, and comparing for like figures for year end 2018 and 2019 the total number of helicopters globally has increased by only 0.46%, from 31,965 aircraft to 32,113 in 2019. This slight increase of helicopters within the civil market is a continuing trend despite some sectors of the helicopter industry still struggling after the oil and gas price collapse. But the figures also highlight a downturn in real terms of the actual number of helicopters added down
46 - BART: FEBRUARY - APRIL - 2020
