Airbus Helicopters opens R & D facility in Poland

MARIGNANE, France, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Airbus Helicopters has opened an engineering design office in Poland, expanding its research and development capabilities.

The facility, with about 100 engineers, is in the city of Lodz and is the company's fourth such facility. The others are located in France, Germany and Spain.

"We see a significant potential from Poland, particularly with its young and skilled engineers who can contribute to a new way of bringing innovation to our products and systems," said Airbus Helicopters President Guillaume Faury. "Our goal is to have Airbus Helicopters Polska directly involved with us in many fields, including organization, processes and design."

Airbus Helicopters said the design facilty will deal with a variety of mechanical design work and focus on breakthrough technologies in such areas as rotorcraft drive systems and equipment for military and commercial helicopters.

The company said it has been cooperating with Polish institutions for the past decade, among them the Lodz University of Technology, the Technical University of Radom and Gdansk University of Technology.

Development of its X3 high-speed hybrid demonstrator aircraft was assisted by the Lodz University of Technology's work on propellers, aerodynamic optimization and engine integration, Airbus Helicopters said.

Fifty-four Airbus Helicopters aircraft operate in the country, with maintenance, repair and overhaul services for them being provided by Heli-Invest, Airbus Helicopters' local distributor and partner.