The 100th Medium Lift Helo Goes To Its Launch Customer

Eurocopter marked the 100th delivery of an EC225 on Tuesday, which was received by offshore helicopter services provider Bristow Group.

(L-R) Mark Duncan, Bristow’s Senior Vice President, Lutz Bertling, President & CEO Eurocopter

The landmark EC225 was supplied in the oil and gas configuration, but it can be used by Bristow in other missions due to the multi-role helicopter’s designed-in operational flexibility.

Marking the successful association of Eurocopter and Bristow Group, Tuesday's EC225 delivery ceremony was held at the helicopter manufacturer’s Marignane, France, facility in the presence of Eurocopter President & CEO Lutz Bertling; Mark Duncan, Bristow’s Senior Vice President – Commercial; and Bristow’s CFO, Jonathan Baliff; who were joined by Wolfgang Schoder, Eurocopter’s Executive Vice President for Programs.

“Eurocopter’s 100th EC225 delivery is a historic moment, and it is particularly appropriate that we are marking this milestone with Bristow, which was the EC225’s launch customer,” Bertling stated. “In addition, this latest delivery of an EC225 to Bristow underscores the helicopter’s capabilities to meet the most demanding requirements,” Bertling added.

“We are looking forward to the introduction of our eighteenth EC225 increasing our capacity to serve the oil and gas market. This aircraft together with the two delivered in June are already contracted to a customer in Malaysia.” said Duncan.

Bristow was the launch customer in the Oil & Gas market for the EC225 when the type was introduced into service in 2005 as well as being the launch customer for the AS332L in the early 1980s. More than 50,000 hours have been logged by Bristow’s EC225s, representing approximately one-third of all flight time accumulated by this helicopter type worldwide. Furthermore Bristow and Eurocopter have a Memorandum of Agreement in place for acquisition of the EC175 for which again Bristow will be the launch customer, underscoring the special relationship and partnership between the two companies.

FMI: www.eurocopter.com, www.bristowgroup.com