Company Looking For "Positive Results" From Investment

The East Mississippi Community College in Mayhew got a present Tuesday: a Eurocopter BK117 for its aerospace training program.

Northeast Mississippi has an aerospace industry that is growing rapidly. Eurocopter donated the BK117 (type shown above) to the community college to help grow the program and maybe a few new employees along with it.

"American Eurocopter has been working with EMCC to give potential employees the knowledge and skills they need," said Sammy Pence, American Eurocopter's Vice President for Commercial Programs and Programs Coordination. "We've developed several courses together. Now this helicopter will give students a tool for hands-on training."

"American Eurocopter is eager to partner with the college for local workforce development and is looking forward to positive results from this investment," says Marc Paganini, company CEO.

The helicopter will be used to provide specific training for avionics and wire and cable classes. Other classes include sheet metal and riveting training for services the college will provide for Eurocopter.

"There are still some technicalities to work out, but we hope to get training started by the end of the summer," said Mike McCullough, EMCC Industrial Maintenance Technology Instructor.

So far, there are 12 students enrolled in the two-year Associate of Arts degree program and McCollough fully expects the class size to double to its capacity of 25 very soon.

"We're pleased and excited about the opportunity to offer training for a world class company like American Eurocopter," said McCullough. "Thanks to their donation we are looking forward to a great school year."

FMI: www.eastms.edu. www.eurocopter.com