First EC135 Delivered Fifteen Years Ago
Eurocopter has delivered the 1,000th EC135 to its new owner.
Fifteen years after the first of these helicopters rolled off the
production line at the Eurocopter plant in Donauworth, the group's
President and CEO Lutz Bertling handed the keys of the new aircraft
on this landmark occasion to Peter Meyer, the President of ADAC,
Germany's largest automobile club and one of Eurocopter's
longest-standing major customers.

This latest purchase brings the organization's air rescue fleet
up to a total of 51 aircraft, including the BK117 and EC145 in
addition to the EC135. In total, these aircraft have clocked up no
less than 550,000 flight hours to date and saved numerous
lives.
Eurocopter's relationship with its biggest German customer in
the air rescue sector extends back over more than 40 years. All the
more reason, therefore, to invite high-ranking government
representatives such as the Bavarian prime minister Horst Seehofer
and Peter Hintze, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal
Ministry of Economics and Technology, to attend the delivery
ceremony for the 1000th EC135. In his welcome speech as host of
this important event marking yet another milestone in the company's
history, Group President and CEO Lutz Bertling made special
reference to the significance of the EC135 to Eurocopter's German
manufacturing and development location in Donauwoerth.
Right from the start of the organization's air rescue
operations, the ADAC placed its confidence exclusively in
helicopter technology from Eurocopter and its predecessor MBB,
starting with the BO105 over 40 years ago, followed by the BK117,
introduced in 1984, and the EC135 in 1996. The EC145, with its
higher payload capacity, was the latest in the range of Eurocopter
aircraft to join the fleet. When the ADAC air rescue service opted
for the EC135 in 1996, it was one of the first operators to fly
this type of aircraft, which was later to become the world's most
popular light twin helicopter, with no less than 220 customers
worldwide. The ADAC air rescue service, which has clocked up over
95,000 flight hours with its fleet of meanwhile 32 EC135s, is
entirely satisfied with its performance.

"The EC135 has helped us to provide an air rescue service using
aircraft that are cleaner, quieter and more cost-efficient.
Therefore we are enthusiastic about its technical qualities. Its
performance has enabled us to establish a national network of
emergency medical service providers that is without parallel in
Germany and serves as an example for similar services elsewhere",
says ADAC President Peter Meyer, underlining the importance of this
helicopter model.
"The delivery of the 1000th EC135 is a special occasion for
Eurocopter, which gives us added impetus to continue developing our
products in close contact with the customer and contributing to the
enhancement of the emergency services network. We have always given
special emphasis to ensuring optimum conditions for rescue missions
and the assured safety of the air rescue teams," said Dr. Bertling,
speaking at the event.
The rescue aircraft that bear the ADAC's yellow livery operate
out of more than 34 helicopter stations throughout Germany.