| “Our customers have been involved in the design of the EC175 from
the outset. In our Customer Advisory Team meetings, we listen closely
to their requirements, input and operating experience,” explains Lutz
Bertling, President and CEO of Eurocopter. In terms of safety, aircraft
accessibility, mission versatility, eco-friendliness, cabin space and
comfort, the EC175 is shaping up to be a formidable contender in the
medium twin class. As with the Oil and Gas transport and SAR versions
we introduced one year ago, we will develop the corporate variant of
the EC175 with our customers for our customers.”
Presented on the booth in a 10-seat layout, the seating and
equipment arrangements can be adapted to meet specific customer
demands. A 14-seat corporate version is also possible. The company
ensures swift retrofit capability of the EC175 to allow customers to
reconfigure it for various missions as needed.
The marketing
launch of the EC175 at Heli-Expo 2008, where it debuted with its Oil
and Gas /SAR configuration, resulted in orders for 111 aircraft taken
within three days. The program continues to follow the launch plan and
is on time for several key milestones. The first airframe was delivered
by Harbin Aviation Industry Co. to Eurocopter last November and
prototype production is underway. The maiden flight will be performed
before next HAI and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) type
certification is expected for 2011. Deliveries of the Oil and Gas
transport version with a seating capacity of 16 persons will commence
in 2012, while the corporate variant will be available as from 2014.
Safety
was paramount in the design of the EC175. Its airframe and fuel system
exceed EASA CS29 crashworthiness requirements. In addition to general
fail-safe design and fully redundant systems, emergency egress capacity
also exceeds EASA Type IV certification requirements. Two wide pilot
doors, two extra-wide, sliding passenger doors and eight large push-out
windows allow 16 passengers and two pilots to leave the aircraft in a
matter of seconds.
In the development of the EC175, Eurocopter
has also taken into account the economic concerns of its customers and
interests in minimizing maintenance costs. The overall concept of
Integrated Logistic Support (ILS) was applied to optimize a preventive
maintenance program which enhances safety, operational availability,
reliability and cost effectiveness. This maintenance policy has been a
cornerstone of the design of the EC175.
About 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. 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.
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