Vancouver, BC – December 9, 2006
Washington Marine Group Executive Chairman and private helicopter pilot Kyle Washington is purchasing a cutting-edge Eurocopter EC120B Colibri helicopter from Eurocopter Canada. Custom-painted in deep blue with silver tiger stripes and emblazoned with the Washington Companies’ distinctive ‘W’ on its Fenestron tail, the EC120B will be flown by Washington, his wife/fellow pilot Janelle (who designed its livery), and company pilots. Equipped with two SAGEM ICDS-8 Active Matrix LCDs — the state-of-the-art in avionics — the new EC120B will replace the current older EC120 owned by the Washingtons.
“The Washingtons are very big fans of Eurocopter,” says Washington’s business partner and longtime family friend Jon Curleigh. “In fact, Kyle has always been enthralled by anything that flies, which is why he and Janelle jointly obtained their helicopter licenses. Now, by moving up to the EC120B Colibri, the Washingtons will be flying the latest in helicopter technology; in a sleek deep blue-and-silver aircraft that will look good beside Kyle’s McLaren F1 ‘supercar’.”
The EC120B’s SAGEM ICDS-8 avionics system is the first in a series of glass cockpits that Eurocopter has developed for the light corporate market. The dual monitor system shows all of the EC120B’s navigational information; including GPS, Com, VOR, LOC and glide-slope/colour moving map data generated by the aircraft’s Garmin GNS 430. The primary flight data is presented on the first SAGEM display and the moving map data on the second. As well, all of the EC120B’s engine system information is graphically represented on Eurocopter’s patented VEMD panel. The EC120B’s panel also comes with standard navigational equipment, as a backup to the glass cockpit.
“Besides the EC120B’s glass cockpit, Kyle and Janelle also chose the EC120B because of its shrouded Fenestron tail – which keeps passengers safe while delivering a very quiet ride – luxurious roomy cabin, and the aircraft’s overall operational efficiency/ease of maintenance,” says Curleigh. “It’s truly a high-end performance machine that will see a lot of flight time in the Pacific Northwest. Add the great support and service provided by Eurocopter Canada’s very professional staff, and the whole experience has been just great.”
Eurocopter Canada Limited (www.eurocopter.ca) is a subsidiary of Eurocopter. Eurocopter Canada based in Fort Erie, Ontario has customer support centres in Vancouver, British Columbia and Montreal, Quebec. Eurocopter 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. 13,000 people. In 2005, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s No. 1 helicopter manufacturer with a turnover of 3.2 billion euros, orders for 401 new helicopters, and a 52 percent market share in the civil and para-public sectors. Overall, the Group’s products account for 30 percent of the total world helicopter fleet. Its strong worldwide presence is ensured by its 16 subsidiaries on five continents, along with an extensive network of distributors, certified agents and maintenance centres. More than 9,500 Eurocopter helicopters are currently in service with over 2,500 customers in 139 countries. Eurocopter offers the largest civil and military helicopter range 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 |
Jean Louis ESPES Tel : + 33 (0)4 42 85 95 55 Fax :+ 33 (0)4 42 85 95 64 jean-louis.espes[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 |
Jesus RUIZ Tel: +34 91 379.66.04 Fax: +34 91 379 66 10 jesus.ruiz[at]eurocopter.com Eurocopter España, S.A |
Website: www.eurocopter.com
