São Paulo – Helibras, a Brazilian maker of helicopters, announced on Tuesday (7th) that revenues totalled US$ 112.1 million in 2008, growth of 22% over 2007. According to a press statement disclosed by the company, deliveries totalled 26 aircraft last year. Revenues also incuded the sale of spare parts and maintenance services.
Revenues, according to the company, were the largest of the compnay’s 30-year history. During 2008, the sale of 28 new helicopters was negotiated. There was also the signing of an agreement between Helibras, Eurocopter and the government of Brazil for the production of 50 units of the EC725 model, turned to the Armed Forces of Brazil.
Eurocopter belongs to European group EADS, the consortium that owns Airbus, and is the main Helibras shareholder. The other partners are the government of Minas Gerais and the Brazilian Bueninvest group.
The company factory in Itajubá, Minas Gerais, has capacity for production of 30 helicopters a year. To supply the demands of the government of Brazil, the compnay will have to expand its production capacity. According to the organisation’s president, Jean-Noël Hardy, the targets for growth in 2009 are "daring", with the start of the EC725 program and with expansion of revenues with services and aircraft maintenance sales.
According to Helibras, the Brazilian helicopter fleet grew 21% over the last five years and the company has 53% market participation. The company also exports to other countries in Latin America.
*Translated by Mark Ament
