marketing and sales at P&WC. “We’re seeing backlogs of two years–plus that are actually growing to almost three years. Te supply is where the challenge continues to be. A lot of that comes from raw-material availability.” OEMs are being creative in how they help tip the sup-
ply-chain scales in their favor, from purchasing suppliers outright to encouraging them to buy extra materials and commit to higher parts quantities in order to respond quickly to potential increases in demand. For example, Airbus and Safran last year partnered with a private equity firm to purchase raw-material processing company Aubert & Duval. MD Helicopters, meanwhile, signed longer-term contracts with suppliers to encourage the latter’s investment in increased materials procurement. And P&WC offers suppliers training in demand projection and materials purchases to help them prioritize their purchases and capacity. “It does pay back, and we’re seeing improvement, but
there are still issues,” Chabée said of P&WC’s hands-on approach with suppliers. Guimbal reported strong sales of its Cabri G2 but with
deliveries hindered by the same supply challenges. Te company is continuing development of a four-seat helicopter.
While both Guimbal and P&WC battle supply-chain issues, their collective steps forward in the past year highlight the tenacity of OEMs of all sizes to succeed in a VUCA world. “For us, 2023 was dominated by the hunt for supplies, suppliers, and materials,” said Guimbal President Bruno Guimbal. “While we didn’t deliver more than 30 helicopters as we’d hoped, we still delivered, and we have almost sold out 2024.”
Historic Announcements While HAI’s rebranding to VAI was the most visible news at HAI HELI-EXPO 2024, several other big announcements at the show also had historic significance for the industry. On Day 1 of Expo, Kurt Robinson, president and CEO of Robinson Helicopter Co. (RHC) and son of RHC founder Frank Robinson, announced his retirement. He named former Bell engineer and senior executive David Smith as the OEM’s new president. Smith joined RHC last year as VP of operations. Te move marks the first time since the company’s
founding in 1973 that RHC has not been led by a Robinson family member. Te company remains privately owned by
SEE
how the Wisk Aero Gen 6 air taxi is configured
The Wisk Aero Generation 6 air taxi drew lots of visitors. The company’s four-seat electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft is designed for autonomous operations.
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