July 10, 2009
Four decades of rotary-wing industry leadership through international cooperation and high-value U.S. in-sourcing were celebrated today by EADS North America’s American Eurocopter business unit, which marked its 40th anniversary at the company’s Grand Prairie, Texas headquarters.
Speakers at the event underscored how American Eurocopter’s global industry resources have been a key contributor to its success, and will continue to position the company at the forefront of the U.S. helicopter sector for years to come.
“American Eurocopter and EADS North America are excellent examples of the positive benefits that come from industrial investment in the United States,” said Ralph Crosby, Jr., EADS North America’s Chairman and CEO.
Crosby noted that American Eurocopter’s growth has been accompanied by a significant expansion of the company’s Grand Prairie operation, along with the creation of a rotary-wing center of excellence at Columbus, Mississippi – where the company builds EADS North America’s UH-72A Light Utility Helicopter for the U.S. Army.
American Eurocopter’s roots date back to the creation of its predecessor organization in 1969, which began operations in Texas with 43 employees. Building on a family of innovative and advanced helicopters, the company has become a major supplier to the U.S. civilian, law enforcement and government sectors – growing to total employment of more than 750 today.
“Our story is about the strength of American aerospace and its leading role in the global industry,” said Marc Paganini, the President and CEO of American Eurocopter, adding that the company’s achievements are the result of “what is possible when the best of American aerospace and its exceptional workforce is paired with the innovation, technology, energy and opportunity that is prevalent throughout the global aerospace community.”
Paganini said American Eurocopter will continue to evolve its infrastructure to serve the U.S. operator base, and noted that a new customer service center was inaugurated at Grand Prairie this morning – just prior to today’s 40th anniversary celebration.
Another priority of American Eurocopter is working with its local communities in Texas and Mississippi to ensure the existence of a “culture of aerospace excellence for decades to come,” Paganini stated. As part of this commitment, the company is actively involved with schools and institutions of higher learning, offering cooperative educational opportunities for those who will become the aerospace industry managers, engineers and production personnel of the future.
Lutz Bertling, President and CEO of the company’s Eurocopter Group parent organization, said American Eurocopter’s development over the past four decades has been “driven by the American spirit of enterprise and a desire to participate in the rapidly-growing U.S. helicopter market through investments, as well as superior products and services.”
He added that American Eurocopter proved to be an early example of the benefits that can be derived from aerospace globalization. Starting from an annual delivery rate of some 40 aircraft soon after American Eurocopter’s predecessor was created in 1969, the company’s total deliveries reached 1,000 helicopters in 1987, and today have passed the 2,500 mark.
“This is the result of a journey of international product and investment synergy that has resulted in a whole that is much greater than the sum of its parts,” Bertling told attendees at today’s celebration. “The initial seed that was planted has grown and changed over the years into a company that is the leading provider of helicopters in the U.S., including the law enforcement and emergency medical services sectors. And today, the military customer increasingly is turning to us for aircraft to meet its requirements.”
Bertling said the Eurocopter Group and American Eurocopter are looking to the future with a commitment to maintain their significant investments as they offer the best mission capability for customers with innovative products and services.
“This is why we will continue to expand our presence in the U.S. and, as an international group, is why we intend to achieve at least one first flight per year for a new product, a major upgrade or a technology demonstrator,” he concluded. “This is what we want people to understand when they think of American Eurocopter – a name that reflects our personality that is global and American at the same time. American Eurocopter is truly an endeavor of shared goals, standards and a drive that transcends borders.”
• See American Eurocopter’s website for more coverage of the company’s 40th anniversary event.
