Jeremy Parkin, founder of the world’s first helicopter industry news website (helihub.com) and now Parapex Media, returns for a second episode on Asian Skycast. This time he speaks with ASG’s Jeffrey Lowe on all things helicopter related. The two talk on how the industry & its sectors are coping with COVID-19, the impact on OEMs; the pandemic’s effect on specific aircraft types and on different mission segments. Jeremy then speaks on the O&G market, gives his comments on the promise the APAC market holds and lastly, discusses current trends like E-delivery that could remain with us after the pandemic.

Listen in as they discuss:

Parapex Media and how Jeremy keeps a close eye on the global changes in the helicopter market & industry (02:12)

Helihub.com - Jeremy as a Pioneer in delivering helicopter news and the ‘man in the know’ (03:26)

The various factors currently impacting the rotary industry, from the collapse of oil prices, potentially record wildfire seasons, and the pandemic (05:00)

Current status of multi-turbine, single-turbine, and piston market segments, each impacted differently by the pandemic (06:25)

Why the piston market (dominated by private pilots & training schools) has been hit the worst (06:37)

The other end of the market: multi-turbines less impacted due to long-term work & contracts (08:20)

Single-turbine market … somewhere in between (09:34)

Increased demand for corporate jets during COVID-19 may spill over into the helicopter charter market…but not too much (10:25)

OEMs, like Airbus, have slowed production down and have had to change the way they delivery during the pandemic (11:48)

More orders for the H145 and an 18 month backlog (12:30)

Social distancing and travel restrictions’ impact on production rates: Q2 down but Q3 may be higher (13:42)

How do you adapt when lockdown restrictions change day to day (15:07)

The most resilient pre-owned helicopter types (16:48)

How is the O&G sector coping with COVID-19? (17:21)

Telling stats: a 20-year low for the number of O&G wells (18:43)

More work in China due to drive for self-sufficiency (19:41)

No demand for new aircraft as helicopters are parked around the world – 30 S92s (20:01)

Heavy end of the market to suffer from low demand from O&G (20:29)

Optimism from the H225, its grounding, and eventual comeback – a second life awaits (20:57)

Which sectors pick up the slack when O&G utilization drops – Wind Farms! (22:50)

The EMS & Law Enforcement markets – Carry On with some mods (24:08)

Not the same idle fleet issues as the airlines (25:30)

Long distant helicopters and the 609 (25:57)

The different outlooks for corporate charter and private flying (27:28)

Jeremy’s comments on the APAC market and upcoming opportunities (29:00)

Future of Sikorsky in China (30:19)

Got to adapt (31:22)

The interesting concept of E-Delivery & remote appraisals – long term trends or here to stay (32:05)

Resilient Aviation (34:51)

To find out more about Jeremy and Parapex Media please click here.
To learn more about his website, HeliHub, please visit here.