March 1, 2007
American Eurocopter has a high-profile presence at this week’s 2007 HeliExpo convention in Orlando, Florida, where the EADS North America business unit reconfirmed its industry leadership with major new helicopter sales announcements in the air medical services, off-shore and tourism sectors.
Leading the new business announcements was Omniflight Helicopters, Inc. contract for 24 single-engine AS350B3s, which will be delivered at the rate of eight aircraft per year from 2008 to 2010. Omniflight supports more than 50 different emergency medical services programs in 15 states across the U.S., and is a repeat customer for the AS350B3 – previously acquiring seven helicopters (of which two already have been delivered).
Another large booking revealed at HeliExpo was Era Helicopters LLC’s 20-aircraft order, which involves three different members in Eurocopter’s single- and twin-engine helicopter family. This acquisition is composed of eight EC145 intermediate twin turbine helicopters, eight EC135 light twin turbine aircraft and four single-engine AS350B2s. It will significantly expand Era’s offshore oil and gas industry operations in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as providing growth for its air medical service in the U.S.
Maverick Helicopters’ contract for 10 additional EC130B4s the third large volume deal announced at the industry exhibition in Orlando. These single-engine light helicopters will perform rotary-wing tour flights over Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon area. Maverick Helicopters already is the world’s largest EC130B4 customer, and the new agreement will bring its American Eurocopter fleet to 50 by the end of 2010.
In a HeliExpo briefing to international journalists today, American Eurocopter President & CEO Marc Paganini said the business unit retained its U.S. market leadership in 2006 for the seventh year. The company booked 153 orders for commercial and para-public helicopters last year, which is in addition to the initial 42 UH-72A Light Utility Helicopters ordered by the U.S. Army with prime contractor EADS North America.
Paganini said American Eurocopter is now entering a new era as it transitions from the assembly and completion of helicopters produced in Europe by Eurocopter to being a full-fledged manufacturer and supplier.
“We already are building ‘made in America’ AS350B2s and B3s that are produced under FAA certification at our Columbus, Mississippi factory, with 52 of these helicopters to be delivered this year,” he explained. “In addition, our advanced manufacturing center is manufacturing aft fuselage sections for AS350 and EC145 helicopters, and we are gearing up the industrial activity for the UH-72A Lakota – which will lead to a full production line at Columbus in 2008.”
A major expansion of American Eurocopter’s Columbus facility is underway for the UH-72A program, with 219,000 sq. ft. of new facilities now being constructed. Scheduled for completion this September, the addition includes an assembly hall, flight line, warehouse, plus office and support areas.
American Eurocopter’s Grand Prairie headquarters also is growing with the addition of a new training center (to house flight simulators, procedural trainers and more classroom capacity), along with a new delivery center and avionics shop.
