Helicopter Blades Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

Helicopters have emerged as a preferred mode for point to point travel, especially in an urban scenario. This has led to the rapid growth of helicopter charter services, wherein several charter operators have placed orders for procuring new helicopters as part of their fleet modernization programs. The demand for helicopters is very high in China due to their critical use in air medical services, emergency response teams, search and rescue (SAR), and firefighting operations. In 2018, 89 turbine-engine helicopters were delivered in China, which represents a healthy 14% YoY growth. On this note, the first Airbus H215 helicopter was delivered to China’s State Grid General Aviation Company (SGGAC). The utility configuration of the delivered H215 helicopter is envisioned to facilitate operations such as cable repair, cable laying, cargo transportation, and power line pylons constructions in difficult-to-reach areas. 

Several helicopter OEMs are planning to enhance their market share in the region, especially in dominant countries such as China, India, Japan, and Australia. At the Airshow China 2018, Russian Helicopters signed a contract for supplying 20 Ansat helicopters to the Chinese Emergency and Disaster Relief Association. Since helicopter manufacturers are required to obtain type certification prior to initiating deliveries in a country, in February 2020, Russian Helicopters successfully obtained the type certificate for the Ansat light multipurpose helicopter and marks the prospect of commencing deliveries in China in the upcoming period.

On the military front, several countries are awarding contracts for advanced multi-role helicopters to modernize their existing fleet. In September 2015, India penned a USD 3 billion deal for procuring 22 Apache AH-64E and 15 Chinook helicopters. In May 2019, the first Apache AH-64E was delivered to the Indian Armed Forces. As of February 2020, 17 AH-64Es have been delivered to India.

Since helicopters in the region are scheduled to operate in a diversified climate, the helicopter blades may be exposed to several weather anomalies, resulting in potential strain and damage to the blades. Hence, aftermarket and maintenance services would be required to ensure airworthiness of the helicopter fleet. Hence, on account of the diversified plethora of applications that a helicopter can be used for, and the associated maintenance activities, the market in focus in Asia-Pacific is anticipated to witness higher growth during the forecast period.