Eurocopter Books 11 Orders, LOIs at FIDAE Show

Through its subsidiary in the Southern Cone region, Eurocopter has announced the signing of five contracts and six letters of intent with a number of private and parapublic operators in Argentina, Chile and Peru at this year’s FIDAE International Air and Space Fair in Santiago, Chile. The following bookings have been registered: 4 AS350 B3e, 3 EC145, 3 EC130 T2 and 1 EC155 B1.

The Eurocopter Group showcased its status as the market leader in the region and exhibited six models from its extensive range of helicopters at its static display, among them an EC725 operated by the Brazilian Air Force. Eurocopter also made its mark by participating in the exhibition flights held throughout the event, with an AS350 B3 and an AS350 B3e demonstrating their capabilities in performing tactical flights and maneuvers.

Chilean operator Kipreos accepted the first AS350 B3e delivered to South America last year, and since then this latest version of the famous AS350 B3 has become the helicopter of choice for a growing number of operators in the region. Eurocopter signed three contracts and a letter of intent for the single-engine AS350 B3e at FIDAE, once again highlighting its adaptability to a wide range of missions. Signing customers include Puma Lodge (Chile), for tourism and heli-skiing operations; Aeroservi (Chile) for executive transport; Servicios Aéreos Los Andes (Peru) for a range of aerial tasks and mining-support operations; and an Argentinian province for parapublic missions, this last operator also placing an order for an EC145.

“The region’s operators have an increasing number of operational requirements and we can see that the AS350 B3e is still very much the market leader,” said Alexandre Ceccacci, CEO of Eurocopter Chile S.A. “There is also growing interest in twin-engine aircraft, and we are very satisfied with how the airshow has gone overall. Since the start of the year our subsidiary has signed eight contracts and five letters of intent for a total of more than $ 65 million.”

Eurocopter completed delivery of the first of four AS350 B3e helicopters for Heliflight Perú, which reaffirmed its commitment by signing a letter of intent for the purchase of two additional EC145s for carrying loads and passengers for oil, gas and mining companies. In addition, the Ayacucho-based maintenance firm SISA (Sociedad de Inversiones y Servicios Aeronáuticos SAC) has first become the service center to be certified by Eurocopter in Peru, the aim of the agreement being to support the country growing fleet of helicopters.

Through its airline company Aeroandina, the Bethia Group has purchased an EC155 B1, a member of the proven Dauphin family offering world-class comfort, safety, range and speed - qualities that have made this helicopter an ideal choice for corporate transportation and a world leader in the VIP market. Delivery of the second aircraft of this kind to the Southern Cone region will be completed in the coming months.

Meanwhile, more than 100 visitors from across the Southern Cone countries attended the Ecureuil symposium and were able to attend presentations by the Group’s experts concerning the Ecureuil fleet as well as service solutions and the latest additions in the family, the AS350 B3e and the EC130 T2, which was unveiled at Heli-Expo earlier this year. The EC130 T2 generated a great deal of interest, with letters of intent signed for the region’s first three models by the Chilean operators Aeroservi, San Esteban and Transporte San Felipe.

FIDAE also provided an opportunity to honor the work carried out by some of the region’s operators. Eurocopter paid tribute to DAP Helicópteros, Chile’s sole offshore transport operator, for the 100,000 flight hours it has achieved with its BO105, AS355 and EC135 fleet. Also earning recognition was the Argentinian operator Helicopters.ar for its use of an AS350 B3 in the construction of a refuge some 5,995 meters up the Aconcagua mountain, and the Province of Buenos Aires’ Official Air Navigation Agency (DPAO) for its determination to move with the times in carrying out EMS missions with its BO105, BK117 and newly arrived EC145 helicopters.


Source: Eurocopter; issued April 6, 2012

Photo: Eurocopter completes a successful FIDAE logging 11 bookings (Photo by Copyright©SandraSoto)

(8.04.2012)