After Eight Years, Even Hands Over Stronger Airbus Helicopters

Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters for the past eight years, hands over the reins on April 1 of the world’s largest rotorcraft manufacturer.

It has been a tumultuous tenure. Even succeeded Guillaume Faury—now CEO of Airbus—in the midst of an industry downturn that deepened only further with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

He was no stranger to the sector, however, having previously led Safran Helicopter Engines through similarly challenging conditions.

The tide began to turn in the post-pandemic period and following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. While supply chain challenges persisted, geopolitical tensions drove a surge in military orders and indirectly boosted the offshore energy sector, increasing demand for larger helicopters.

“The company has been through a challenging time,” Even told Aviation Week on the sidelines of the Verticon rotorcraft industry exhibition March 9-12 in Atlanta, where he gave a farewell interview to select publications.

“Between 2013 and 2020, the market was halved compared to where we are now,” he said. That downturn forced “tough decisions” during his tenure, he admits, many of which remain undisclosed.

The results, however, have been significant. In 2019, the first full year of Even’s leadership, Airbus Helicopters recorded order intake of €7.2 billion ($8.3 billion).

Seven years later, that figure has nearly doubled to €13.7 billion, driven by growth in both defense and civil markets, while increased flight hours have underpinned the support and services business.

“It has not always been easy, but the momentum we have had in the past eight years is the result of those decisions,” Even said.

Perhaps the most visible of those decisions was the shelving of Airbus Helicopters’ eVTOL advanced air mobility (AAM) ambitions.

The initiative—launched under Faury—produced several demonstrators, including Vahana, CityAirbus and the winged CityAirbus NextGen multicopter, which first flew in November 2024.

However, a strategic review led Even to conclude that the business case, regulatory framework and battery technology were not sufficiently mature. The decision reverberated across the AAM sector.

“We invested money, passion and innovation, and built a team that really believed in the product,” Even said. “But even Airbus, with all the capability and means we have—those means are still limited.”

Ending the AAM effort allowed the company to refocus on uncrewed aircraft systems, including the acquisition of U.S.-based UAS firm Aerovel and the expansion of autonomous capabilities across its product range.

Even also accelerated research and development initiatives. Alongside the EU-backed Racer high-speed rotorcraft, Airbus launched the Flightlab flying testbed, PioneerLab—focused on hybrid-electric propulsion—and DisruptiveLab, a clean-sheet experimental platform exploring future airframe and propulsion concepts, that may be focused on Airbus’ next-generation light helicopter development. He also pushed forward the company’s digital transformation and initiated the modernization of its Marignane facility near Marseille, France, to support future growth.

Even points to the H160 medium twin as a particular success. Although he did not launch the program, he oversaw its entry into service and early market penetration.

In January, Airbus claimed the H160 had captured around 50% of the civil and parapublic medium twin market, challenging Leonardo’s long-dominant AW139—a claim Leonardo disputes. Even, however, believes the aircraft has helped Airbus regain a foothold in a segment it had effectively ceded.

“When we stopped the Dauphin, we lost market share ... at the core of the market, we had almost no offering,” he said. “Now, after working so hard and seeing the market feedback over the past four years, we are confident this is the right product. We believe in it and we are committed to it.”

He will not, however, be there to see the entry into service of the new H140, the new light twin he launched last year.

“I think there is never a good moment to leave a company like Airbus Helicopters, but I am convinced—for the company and for me—that it is time to open a new chapter,” he said.

Even declined to offer advice to his successor, Matthieu Louvot, formerly Airbus Group’s executive vice president for strategy.

“I am not the kind of person who gives lessons ... I cannot give advice on things I don’t know,” he said, perhaps a reflection on the uncertainty of the current global environment. “What I do know is that on the key topics and strategy we are well aligned, so there will be continuity,” he added. “Matthieu will bring a new perspective, a different angle and a new personality.”

Even has not disclosed his next move, although his immediate plans include a walking holiday in Bhutan.

“I’m very happy about the new chapter I will open,” he said. “It will be a more personal one—but I will have time to do what I like.”