Flat Sales Are Forecast by the Feds

The Transportation Research Board is predicting a flat or even slightly negative outlook for civil turbine helicopter deliveries over the next 10 years.

TRB, part of the National Research Council, estimates total sales of 479 civil turbine helicopters when final 1999 tallies are in, compared with 509 in 1998, and said the 500 mark will probably not be exceeded again before 2005.

Deliveries of piston powered helicopters, after 292 in 1998 and an estimated 244 in 1999, are expected to decline further.
"The major influence on this apparent downtrend is the above normal level of deliveries during the last few years as several new models were successfully introduced and rapidly accepted," TRB said. "Worldwide civil deliveries peaked at 801 in 1998, well above the 500-600 level of previous years, and the forecast envisions a return to lower levels in the near term."