The market for new helicopters might decline slightly in 2014. Then again, it might not. According to Honeywell researchers, the market for new civil helicopters over the next half decade looks to be strong, especially this year; prospective buyers are more muted in their expectations for the years following, a situation that might change as economic conditions improve.
Honeywell’s forecast calls for deliveries of around 1,000 helicopters a year, down by around 20 percent from last year’s forecast but still a hugely positive outlook by any other measure. Business in Asia looks to pick up substantially, based on interviews with operators there, whose confidence has been buoyed by the region’s surprising resilience to the downturn and an increased demand for helicopters as Asian economies grow and diversify.
