Airbus to build the latest H215 helicopter model at the new factory in Romania

Airbus Helicopters will assemble the latest H215 helicopter model at the new 10,000 sqm factory based in Brasov, central Romania. Airbus Helicopters laid down the foundation stone of its new Romanian factory during a ceremony organized on November 17. Under the control of Airbus Helicopters Industries, the new Romanian factory will host H215 production from procurement to after-sales, including design office activities, and will provide jobs to more than 300 employees in the long term, reads a company statement. The assembly line will produce up to 15 aircrafts per year, with the first H215 being scheduled to roll out of the assembly line in 2017. “This expanded partnership with Romania, an important EU and NATO member, will ensure that our legacy twin-engine heavy helicopters are more economical than ever on current and emerging markets,” said Guillaume Faury, the CEO of Airbus Helicopters, who was also present at the ceremony. “This new 100% Airbus Helicopters industrial centre is capitalizing on a successful history of aircraft heavy maintenance and complex upgrade programs in Romania and cooperation in the country that goes back more than 40 years,” said Serge Durand, managing director of Airbus Helicopters Industries. The H215 is a twin-engine, versatile, economic and robust helicopter that combines advanced avionics and a reliable platform for rugged multi-mission capabilities. It offers long range capabilities, power, speed, a large useful payload and very good lifting performance in hot and high environments. Belgian company will build parts for Airbus in Romania Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com