With plans to promote Cochin as the heli hub for travel between cities in the state of Kerala, Eurocopter introduces the AS350 B3 Ecureuil and EC130 B4 helicopters that will best meet the needs in the areas of heli-tourism and emergency medical services.
Eurocopter India, the Indian subsidiary of the world’s leading helicopter manufacturer, Eurocopter, participated in a seminar on “Heli Tourism and Heliport Operations” organized by Cochin International Airport in association with Kerala State Tourism Development Corporation and Rotary Wings Society of India. In this one-day seminar held today at the Cochin Airport, head of Eurocopter India Bangalore office, Mr. Rohit Kumar, highlighted two helicopter models which are the world reference for heli-tourism and HEMS (helicopter emergency medical services) – the AS350 B3 Ecureuil and the EC130 B4. These helicopters are popular across the world for their technical capabilities as well as reliability and high performance levels.
Undoubtedly a leader in heli-tourism, 63% of the world turbine engine heli-tourism fleet is Eurocopter helicopters. More significantly, Eurocopter contributed 92 of the 96 global deliveries in the last 10 years - a clear sign of increasing market share and recognition for Eurocopter helicopters in heli-tourism.
In the HEMS segment, Eurocopter commands 80% market share worldwide. Globally, 15 to 20% of the helicopters sold each year are HEMS helicopters; and Eurocopter helicopters are the only ones that have been ‘designed’ for HEMS, complete with a large cabin, rear and side access for easier stretcher loading, protected tail rotor and the lowest noise signature in the world. They are capable of flying at varied altitudes and under the most challenging of conditions.
Both the AS350 B3 Ecureuil and the EC130 B4 are highly adaptable for both missions, as they can be quickly reconfigured from passenger transport to HEMS – the replacement of seats with stretchers and medical equipment can be done in just five minutes.
In India, the AS350 B3 Ecureuil is no stranger to helicopter operators. It is the undisputed leader in heli-tourism in India and has been successfully deployed by a number of Indian operators. During the recently concluded airshow, Aero India 2011, five of these helicopters were purchased by three Indian customers. Three of the rotary-wing aircrafts were ordered by Global Vectra, whose fleet will grow to seven AS350 B3s; while Summit Aviation and SS Aviation purchased one each. These helicopters will be used for the purpose of heli-skiing, aerial work, passenger transport, HEMS and several others.
The AS350 B3 Ecureuil is currently flying tourists to places like Vaishno Devi, Kedarnath, Badrinath and Amarnath. It is successfully used by numerous operators for corporate transportation, and has become the backbone of India’s geophysical surveys. Most recently, Pawan Hans Helicopter Limited equipped an AS350 B3 with cameras and relay equipment for TV broadcasts during the recent Commonwealth Games, an Indian first.
The EC130 B4, while relatively new in the Indian market, is fast gaining popularity. It is the only helicopter in the world to have been designed for heli-tourism mission and has become a globally successful helicopter in this segment. Due to its open cabin architecture, it offers exceptional cabin visibility on both sides for an amazing aerial view to its 8 passengers in a very stable, quiet and safe environment. Underlining its capabilities, the EC130 is used for tourist flights over the Grand Canyon in the U.S., where its stipulated noise limits is one of the strictest in the world. The rotorcraft is also favoured by the Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, the biggest tour operator in Hawaii, where each of the nine EC130s log between 1,500 and 2,000 flight hours per year.
Eurocopter inaugurated its Indian subsidiary in October 2010, reinforcing its support and services network throughout the country and further developing the company’s four-decade relationship with the Indian industry. Eurocopter is the world’s first major helicopter manufacturer to establish such a subsidiary in India, which underscores its commitment to the development of this market. It currently has 23 civil and government customers operating its helicopter products in India, with these rotary-wing aircraft performing duties that range from the support of offshore oil and gas drilling to VIP, corporate and passenger transportation. In addition to reinforcing its current presence, Eurocopter is also working with Indian institutions, companies and associations to develop areas such as law enforcement, helicopter emergency medical services, disaster management and utility.
About Eurocopter
Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter group is a division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defense and related services. The Eurocopter group employs approximately 15,600 people. In 2010, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s No. 1 helicopter manufacturer in the civil and parapublic market, with a turnover of 4.8 billion euros; orders for 346 new helicopters; and a 49 percent market share in the civil and parapublic sectors. Overall, the group’s products account for 33 percent of the total world civil and parapublic helicopter fleet. Its strong worldwide presence is ensured by its 27 subsidiaries and participations on five continents, along with a dense network of distributors, certified agents and maintenance centers. There are 11,200 Eurocopter helicopters currently in service with nearly 2,900 customers in 147 countries. Eurocopter offers the largest civil and military helicopter range in the world.
About Eurocopter India Pvt Limited
On October 20, 2010, Eurocopter inaugurated its new Indian subsidiary, which has been given the goals of expanding the world’s largest helicopter manufacturer’s commercial presence in this highly-promising marketplace, reinforcing its support and services network throughout the country, and further developing the company’s four-decade relationship with Indian industry.
Eurocopter India Pvt. Ltd. is the 25th subsidiary established worldwide by Eurocopter and the 10th in Asia. It is the first and only foreign helicopter manufacturer in the world to have created a fully-fledged subsidiary in India. The new subsidiary is headquartered in New Delhi and has an existing facility in Bangalore for the management of industrial activity. An engineering centre will be created in Bangalore next year to support the company’s design, development and industrial activities, along with the opening of a new commercial office in Mumbai.
