FORT ERIE, Ontario – Dr. Lutz Bertling, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eurocopter, is visiting Canada on February 26 and 27 to meet with customers and key industry officials in Toronto and tour the company’s expanded main facility in Fort Erie, Ontario.
Dr. Bertling’s visit to Canada follows his participation at the Heli-Expo trade show in Houston, Texas, where Eurocopter unveiled its newest aircraft, the EC 175 multi-purpose helicopter. On this occasion Dr. Bertling signed a multi aircraft agreement with the Canadian EC 175 launch partner, operator VIH Aviation Group. VIH is headquartered at the Victoria, BC International airport.
In Canada, Dr. Bertling will review the industrial ramp-up that is going on at the company’s Fort Erie operations, where composite components are manufactured for the EC 135 and EC 145 medium twin engine helicopters. Currently, there are 615 EC 135 and 154 EC 145 helicopters in service worldwide.
“I am pleased to visit Canada at such a pivotal point in the history of Eurocopter,” said Dr. Bertling. “Throughout this year, Eurocopter Canada will be significantly expanding its operations in this country, from British Columbia to Quebec. This expansion is the result of our growth in key Canadians markets, as well as the important strategic role Canada is playing in our long-term business plans within the worldwide Eurocopter Global Supply Chain.”
In addition to expanding its main facility in Fort Erie, Eurocopter Canada is opening a new logistics facility in Richmond, British Columbia and re-establishing its operations in Quebec. Eurocopter forecasts that it will deliver its 500th helicopter in Canada within the next 12 months.
“There is no question about it, 2008 is shaping up to be a milestone year for Eurocopter Canada,” said Marie-Agnès Vève, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eurocopter Canada. “We look forward to expanding our presence in the civilian and military helicopter markets in Canada, and contributing to this country’s advanced aerospace industry.”
Eurocopter Canada Limited (www.eurocopter.ca) is a subsidiary of Eurocopter. Eurocopter Canada – based in Fort Erie, Ontario – has a customer support network that spans the entire country. 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 14,000 people. In 2007, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s number one helicopter manufacturer in the civil and Para public market, with a turnover exceeding 4 billion euros, orders for 802 new helicopters, and a 53 percent market share in the civil and Para public sectors. Overall, the group’s products account for 30 per cent of the total world helicopter fleet. Its strong worldwide presence is ensured by its 17 subsidiaries on five continents, along with a dense network of distributors, certified agents and maintenance centers. More than 10,000 Eurocopter helicopters are currently in service with over 2,800 customers in 140 countries. Eurocopter offers the largest range of commercial and military helicopters in the world.
| For more information, please contact: | |
| Laura SENECAL Tel: + 905 871-7772 Fax:+ 905 871-3599 laura.senecal[at]eurocopter.ca Eurocopter Canada Limited |
Cécile VION-LANCTUIT Tel: + 33 (0)1 4934 4504 Mob: + 33 (0)6 7283 9067 cecile.vion-lanctuit[at]eurocopter.com Eurocopter |
| Christina GOTZHEIN Tel: + 49 (0) 89 6000 64 88 Fax:+ 49 (0) 89 6000 44 37 christina.gotzhein[at]eurocopter.com Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH |
Christopher BACH Tel.: +49 (0) 906 71 45 65 Fax : +49 (0) 906 71 39 39 christopher.bach[at]eurocopter.com Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH |
Website: www.eurocopter.com
