Blog

25
Feb

Eurocopter Concludes Singapore Airshow with Sale to Bangladesh

An agreement was signed with R&R Aviation on the last day of the Singapore Airshow for two brand new Eurocopter EC130 B4, marking Eurocopter’s breakthrough into the Bangladeshi market with its first new civil helicopter sale. This achievement capped Eurocopter’s successful outing at the Airshow this year, where it also inked deals for four new helicopters with other customers in the Asia region.

The two EC130 B4 helicopters will be R&R’s first purchase of Eurocopter aircraft; this deal also marks a momentous breakthrough for Eurocopter in the Bangladesh civil helicopter market. To be delivered in September this year and first half of 2013 respectively, the two rotary-wing aircraft will be used primarily for emergency medical services, and can be re-configured for corporate passenger transport when the need arises.

The EC130 B4 has an exceptional cabin size which can accommodate 1 stretcher and 2 medical attendants. The wide unobstructed cabin with large doors allows easy loading and unloading of patients and rapid access for medical personnel. The extremely low internal noise level and the flat cabin floor also offer a suitable environment to install fragile and bulky medical equipment. In corporate transport configuration, it can seat up to seven passengers, offering a panoramic view for all at optimum comfort.

“The Eurocopter light and medium range of helicopters are very popular as they are optimally designed for use in emergency medical services,” said Bernhard Brenner, CEO of Eurocopter South East Asia. “We are delighted to have R&R as our first civil helicopter customer in Bangladesh, and it is even more gratifying that our aircraft will be deployed for humanitarian support. We are committed to provide R&R with our utmost service to ensure success in their missions.”

Eurocopter signed deals for a total of six new helicopters at the Singapore Airshow 2012. The six aircraft ranged from the lightest EC120 to the heaviest EC225, to fulfill various types of missions. Added Brenner, “The variety of helicopter types acquired by our customers in Asia reflects the non-homogeneity of this region. Thanks to Eurocopter’s wide-ranging fleet, we are able to offer products that meet the differing needs of our customers.”

Vietnam Helicopter Corporation will use the EC120 as the training aircraft for its newly-created VNH Training Centre; R&R took two EC130 B4 for emergency medical services; Stockwell Investing signed for two units of EC145 T2 for utility missions in Indonesia; and Southern Vietnam Helicopter Corporation invested in its fourth EC225 for offshore operations.

About Eurocopter South East Asia
Eurocopter South East Asia (ESEA) is the Regional Headquarters of Eurocopter, the world’s leading helicopter manufacturer. Established in 1977 in Singapore, ESEA is the training and technical hub, and handles sales and customer support activities of 15 territories in total. In 2011, ESEA achieved a turnover of 135 million Euros. With a staff-strength of more than 200 professionals, the company has developed a successful commercial network of Singapore-based sales team and regional sales managers and technical representatives, servicing and maintaining more than 300 helicopters in the region.

About Eurocopter
Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace and defense-related services. The Eurocopter Group employs approximately 20,000 people. In 2011, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s number one helicopter manufacturer with a turnover of 5.4 billion Euros, orders for 457 new helicopters and a 43 percent market share in the civil and parapublic sectors.

Overall, the Group’s helicopters account for 33 percent of the worldwide civil and parapublic fleet. Eurocopter’s strong international presence is ensured by its subsidiaries and participations in 21 countries. Eurocopter’s worldwide network of service centers, training facilities, distributors and certified agents supports some 2,900 customers. There are currently more than 11,300 Eurocopter helicopters in service in 149 countries. Eurocopter offers the most comprehensive civil and military helicopter range in the world and is fully committed to safety as the most important aspect of its business.