On the Record with
Francois Courtot, Vice President Aero Engines, Turbomeca

"Helicopters R Us," Says Turbomeca

ILA 2000 will be a time to celebrate for Francois Courtot and Turbomeca if the French company is chosen by Germany and the Netherlands to power their 239 twin-engine NH90 utility helicopters. At stake is an order for nearly 500 engines.

Courtot, vice president in charge of aero engines, expects to find out if he's won during ILA when the $4.2 billion production contract for the first 196 of the 20-passenger NH90s is signed. The NH90 is Europe's biggest ever helicopter program, involving 595 aircraft.

France has already chosen Turbomeca's RTM322 for its NH90s, representing 320 engines. And Turbomeca is the only powerplant offered on the NH90 in the Nordic countries' competition for 70 to 90 helicopters.

"Of course we hope to win against GE's T700," said Courtot. "The GE engine has been around much longer, and its direct operating and life cycle costs are well known. We are not so well known -- but our figures are better. So far we have won 80% of the market where we directly compete with the T700."

Another 352 RTM322s have been ordered by the UK for its EH101 and WAH-64 Apache attack helicopters, in place of T700s.

Courtot noted that Turbomeca now powers almost one out of every two civilian and parapublic helicopters flying in the western world. Its largest single customer is Eurocopter, followed by the UK Ministry of Defence.

Turbomeca is heralding another win at ILA: Hindustan Aeronautics selected its TM333 as sole powerplant on the twin-engine Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and ordered 50 more engines, for a total of 80. "This is a very important program," Courtot told Show News. "We expect them to build 300 to 400 ALHs over the next 15 years."

Unlike others, Courtot pointed out, Turbomeca makes almost nothing but helicopter engines. "We are totally devoted to that market -- it is our life. And we intend to remain the world leader," he said. New owner Snecma has confirmed that goal, saying it plans no immediate changes at the company.

©Show News 2000