Eurocopter delivered the first two EC155 B1 Dauphin helicopters to Citic Offshore Helicopter Co. Ltd. (COHC) in Shenzhen, China. The delivery is part of a contract signed on October 12, 2008 for a total of ten helicopters of this type. The handover ceremony was held in the presence of Mr. TANG Wanyuan, General Manager of COHC, Eurocopter's biggest customer in China and Asia, Mr. Bruno Boulnois, CEO of Eurocopter China, Mr. Jean Raphael Peytregnet, Consul General of France in Guangzhou, as well as Mr. Alain Berder, French Trade Commissioner for South China.
The remaining 8 helicopters will be delivered between 2010 to 2013. These 10 EC155s will strengthen COHC's fleet which already includes 21 Eurocopter helicopters, mainly from the Super Puma and Dauphin families.
COHC is the number one civil helicopter operator in China as well as one of the main oil and gas operators in Asia. The new helicopters will be used for offshore transport missions in the country. Since its arrival in the market in 2001, the EC155 Dauphin helicopter has established itself well in the oil and gas market. Indeed, at the end of 2008, more than 130 Dauphin aircraft were being operated in the offshore segment.
The EC155 Dauphin is a multirole twinengine helicopter in the 5 ton class with a seating capacity of 12-13 passengers. Equipped with a roomy cabin, excellent visibility, high speed and long endurance capabilities as well as low noise and vibration levels, the EC155 is used in China for a wide variety of missions ranging from corporate and offshore transport to law enforcement operations.
In the Chinese market for civil helicopters, Eurocopter is the leader with more than 40 percent market share, thanks to its long lasting and successful partnership with the Chinese industry and authorities. Today, around 350 helicopters from the Eurocopter family, including those manufactured under licensed production, are flying in the country.
About Eurocopter China - www.eurocopter-china.com
Eurocopter China was created in December 2006 in adhesion to Eurocopter's multilocal player strategy and to increase proximity with customers in China. Eurocopter China is a whollyowned subsidiary of Eurocopter Group, responsible for sales and customer support activities for all the company's products. Today, more than 150 Eurocopter helicopters have been sold in the country. In order to provide quality service to Chinese operators, Eurocopter China has established a multibased organization in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong staffed with around 35 employees.
Press release Box-ID: 308972
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Airbus Helicopters
Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a Division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defence and related services. The Eurocopter Group employs approx. 15,600 people. In 2008, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world's No. 1 helicopter manufacturer in the civil and parapublic market, with a turnover of 4.5 billion Euros, orders for 715 new helicopters, and a 53 percent market share in the civil and parapublic sectors. Overall, the Group's products account for 30 percent of the total world helicopter fleet. Its strong worldwide presence is ensured by its 18 subsidiaries on five continents, along with a dense network of distributors, certified agents and maintenance centres. More than 10,000 Eurocopter helicopters are currently in service with over 2,800 customers in more than 140 countries. Eurocopter offers the largest civil and military helicopter range in the world.
