Airbus // Universal Registration Document 2021
1. Information on the Company’s Activities /
1.1 Presentation of the Company
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1.1.3 Helicopters
Airbus Helicopters intends to pursue the testing of hybrid and electric propulsion technologies with its Flightlab demonstrator, as well as exploring autonomy, and other technologies aimed at reducing helicopter sound levels or improving maintenance and flight safety. Airbus Hel icopters also made impor tant steps towards decarbonising its products, adopting a three-fold approach using SAF, hybridisation, and electrification. In order to drive the deployment of biofuels, Airbus Helicopters has launched a SAF User Group dedicated to the rotary-wing community. Airbus Helicopters has also started using SAF for training and test flights at its French and German sites as the majority of its product range is already certified to fly with a blend of up to 50% SAF. In November, an Airbus H225 performed the first ever helicopter flight with 100% SAF powering one of the Safran Makila 2 engines. The flight, which took place at Airbus Helicopters’ headquarters in Marignane, marks the start of a flight campaign aiming to assess the impact of unblended SAF on the helicopter systems in view of certifying the use of SAF blends that exceed today’s 50% limit. Regarding hybridisation, Airbus Helicopters, in partnership with the French Civil Aviation Authority DGAC, started flight testing an engine back-up system (“ EBS ”) onboard its Flightlab. The project opens the way to a future hybridised propulsion system for light helicopters while delivering concrete flight safety improvements in the short-term. The campaign’s main target is to enhance flight safety of single engine operations by providing emergency electrical power in case of a turbine failure. To conduct these tests the Flightlab was equipped with a 100 KW electric motor connected to the main gearbox, which can provide electrical power for 30 seconds in the event of engine failure. By giving the pilot extra time to react and maintain rotor speed, the engine back-up system contributes to a safer and smoother autorotation maneuver to the ground. The current flight tests include the simulation of engine failure in different flight conditions, including takeoff and landing procedures and corresponding limitations. While evaluating the safety margins and performance benefits, the flight campaign also aims to demonstrate a performance increase, thanks to the prompt electric power input. The potential benefit in terms of Maximum Take-Off Weight is to compensate for the mass of the EBS system itself and to provide helicopter operators with additional payload. At the Airbus Summit held in September 2021, the Company announced its plans for CityAirbus NextGen as the emerging UAM market begins to firm up. Benefitting from the lessons learned from the two previous demonstrators, the fully electric vehicle is equipped with fixed wings, a V-shaped tail, and eight electrically powered propellers as part of its uniquely designed distributed propulsion system. It is designed to carry up to four passengers in a zero emissions flight in multiple applications with a 80 km range and a cruise speed of 120 km/h, making it perfectly suited for operations in major cities for a variety of missions. The prototype’s first flight is planned for 2023, paving the way for certification as early as 2025. On the military side, Airbus Helicopters and the French Armament General Directorate (“ DGA ”) have launched the development of the H160M and its associated support ecosystem in the frame of the Joint Light Helicopter programme (Hélicoptère Interarmées
Airbus Helicopters is a global leader in the civil and military rotorcraft market, offering one of the most complete and modern range of helicopters and related services. This product range currently includes light single-engine, light twin-engine, medium and medium-heavy rotorcraft, which are adaptable to all kinds of mission types based on customer needs. See “– 1.1.1 Overview” for an introduction to Airbus Helicopters. Ambition & Strategy Airbus Helicopters continues to execute its ambition to lead Helicopters and pioneer new VTOLs for a sustainable future. The strategic priorities of Airbus Helicopters are: – – Customer Loyalty: Airbus Helicopters continues to deliver the best-in-class products and services to grow in the value chain of its customers, continuously improve customer satisfaction and speed up digital and technological transformation of service offering; – – Innovation & Sustainability: Airbus Helicopters continues to build a sustainable innovative eco-system, mature techno- bricks for multiple platforms, develop collaborative innovations for eVTOL and deploy demonstrators and disruptive concepts; – – Defence & Security: Airbus Helicopters continues to act as a global defence & security leader through a robust military strategy product policy, as a preferred partner to home countries, reinforcing military programmes’ attractiveness to address new markets and seizing sales campaigns opportunities to continuously grow its military market share. Transformation The Company remains focused on aviation safety, quality and lead time to continuously improve customer satisfaction. Airbus Hel icopters continues to ref ine and execute its transformation plan in order to maintain its competitiveness in the face of market evolutions and retain its ability to invest in the future. Airbus Helicopters continues to deploy data governance and accelerate its digital transformation based on standard capabilities, and foster digital mindset and community of practice. Airbus Values remain a model for its leaders and employees. Commitment to Innovation In 2021, Airbus Helicopters ramped up deliveries of its five- bladed H145, both new build and retrofits, for various mission segments that the aircraft has been designed to address. The Company also delivered the first version of the H160 to the Japanese operator All Nippon Helicopter, representing a major milestone for this innovative helicopter. At the beginning of the year, Airbus Helicopters started in-flight tests on board its helicopter Flightlab, a platform-agnostic flying laboratory exclusively dedicated to maturing new technologies. Airbus Helicopters’ Flightlab provides an agile and efficient test bed to quickly test technologies that could later equip Airbus’ current helicopter range, and even more disruptive ones for future fixed-wing aircraft or (e)VTOL platforms.
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Airbus / Registration Document 2021
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