Will Expand The Fleet To 15 Aircraft

Eurocopter said Friday at the Paris Air Show that it will deliver three additional EC135 helicopters to the French Gendarmerie, and will continue its support services for this police force's current 12 EC135s through an extension of the company's existing contract. This new acquisition agreement - organized through the French DGA armament procurement agency - will provide an incremental expansion of the Gendarmerie's multi-role, twin-engine EC135 fleet, which is used for police and medical evacuation missions.

"The capability to transmit images of the ground observed from the EC 135 is of paramount interest, as recently shown during the G8 summit, during which 4 EC 135 have logged more than 100 flying hours to protect the area," said Daniel Leimbacher, Chief of French Groupement Central des Forces Aeriennes de la Gendarmerie.

"Eurocopter is dedicated to ensuring the French Gendarmerie - and other police forces around the world - obtain the highest reliability, optimum operational performance and best service with our helicopters," said Dominique Maudet, Eurocopter Executive Vice President Global Business & Services.

The EC135s ordered to date for the Gendarmerie are to strengthen its rotary-wing inventory, and eventually will replace the police force's single-engine Ecureuil helicopters, which have been operated since 1980.

FMI: www.eurocopter.com