Founded in 1969, They Mark 40 In The U.S.

When most of us turn 40, our friends bring black balloons and poorly written greeting cards about how we're over the hill. But American Eurocopter held its own birthday party Friday, marking 40 years in the United States with a special anniversary event at company headquarters in Grand Prairie, Texas.

The “All American Celebration” commemorated the company’s achievements since it was in founded 1969, when Aerospatiale and LTV Aerospace formed Vought Helicopter in Texas. Since that time, the company has developed into one of the nation's  successful helicopter companies.

The company now employs more than 750 employees in the U.S., with well over 500 located in Grand Prairie and the rest at facilities in Columbus, Miss. These employees include engineers, production technicians, program specialists and administrators in manufacturing, marketing, technical support and training for their product line in the United States. The company’s facilities in Grand Prairie and Columbus generate about $740 million annually in total economic impact in the United States and support over 1,000 suppliers nationwide. Recent additions in Grand Prairie include new delivery and training centers, including a full-motion flight simulator, a Customer Service and Fleet Operations Center, and a two-story avionics shop and engineering center.

American Eurocopter hold a strong market share in the U.S. rotorcraft industry. The company says this reflects their development as well as its strong organization, product design and planning. The company is the U.S. arm of Eurocopter Group, the world’s largest helicopter manufacturer, and it is also a subsidiary of EADS North America.

“Eurocopter is focused on designing, building and delivering industry-leading helicopters and services,” explains Dr. Lutz Bertling, President and CEO of Eurocopter Group. “American Eurocopter’s success in the United States represents our commitment to bringing technologically advanced products to the largest commercial and military market in the world. We are proud of these achievements, of the increasing role our American arm plays in the group and of this 40-year celebration.”

“We take pride in our U.S. heritage and the role our operations have played in our growth and leadership in the rotorcraft industry,” said Marc Paganini, President and CEO of American Eurocopter. “It has been a great 40 years — and the best is yet to come.”

FMI: www.eurocopterusa.com