This signature took place after a thorough and rigorous selection
which not only took into account the technological performance of the
aircraft but also its life-cycle cost.
To be delivered before
the end of this year, the EC135 helicopters are destined for the Naval
Training School of Kanoya located on the island of Kyushu.
Mr.
Lutz Bertling, Eurocopter’s CEO stated on this occasion, “We are
extremely proud that our helicopters have been chosen by the Japanese
Maritime Self-Defence Forces. This clearly shows the Japanese Navy’s
confidence in our products. Like we announced at Japan Aerospace in
Yokohama last year, we are determined to gain a foothold in the defence
market in Japan. This contract award clearly brings us a step closer to
achieving this goal and we remain committed to serving the needs of the
Japanese Self-Defence Forces with our wide range of products,
especially with the NH90* helicopter”.
Tailored for advanced training missions, the EC135 is well
adapted for air crew from defence forces operating new generation
multi-role or combat helicopters, such as Japan. In Europe, countries
such as Germany, Spain and Switzerland are already using the EC135 or
its military version the EC635 for the training of their pilots.
This
new fleet of EC135 training helicopters will add to the 3 EC225 VIP
helicopters (which entered into operation mid last year) currently
flying for the Japanese Self-Defence Forces.
With 57% market
share in the civil and parapublic sectors, a fleet of 360 helicopters
and more than 40 years of presence, Eurocopter is well-positioned in
Japan to provide on-site maintenance and logistics services through the
presence of its subsidiary Eurocopter Japan and its distributor
EuroHeli.
Training is made easy on the EC135 helicopter
The
EC135 is a modern light twin-engine helicopter in the 3 ton class with
a seating capacity of 7 – 8 passengers and doted with a good
manoeuvrability, high visibility and low vibration level. Equipped with
a glass cockpit and the most advanced technologies, the EC135 allows
instructors to perform training missions in optimal safety conditions.
It is also simple to maintain and has a low fuel consumption level,
which reduces operating ad overall training costs.
12 years
after making its debut in the market in mid-1996, more than 800 EC135
helicopters have been delivered worldwide for a variety of missions
ranging from pilot training, law enforcement to Emergency Medical
Services (EMS)/Search and Rescue (SAR). In Japan there are currently 40
EC135s flying for EMS missions (better known as Doctor Heli), news
gathering and corporate transport operations.
*The NH90 is a
helicopter in the 9-10 metric ton class intended to modernise and boost
the capability of the tactical transport and anti-submarine combat
fleets. It is developed by NHI - joint venture established between
Eurocopter, Agusta Westland and Stork Fokker.
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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