MARIGNANE, France- Eurocopter is transforming a production
facility in the United States into an assembly plant and final test site for
AS350 civil aircraft.
The company said the move is to offset the impact of a reduced production of UH-72A Lakota helicopters for the U.S. military and also to boost U.S. sales of the AS350, used in the law enforcement and emergency medical service markets.
-A Eurocopter AS350 helicopter in flight (Photo: American Eurocopter). -
"North America is the largest light helicopter market
in the world for Eurocopter, and this new assembly line supports our industrial
strategy by manufacturing the preferred AS350 'Made in the USA' in close
proximity to our customers," said Joseph Saporito, executive vice
president of Eurocopter's Global Supply Chain business. "This decision
further supports our investments that have developed reliable and efficient
local industrial capabilities in a market with strong expected growth."
The plant is located in Columbus, Miss., and is one of two
Eurocopter facilities in the country. Preparations for AS350 assembly and
testing at the plant will start almost immediately, with production of the
aircraft scheduled to begin late next year.
The Eurocopter team in Columbus already have experience in the partial
assembly of the AS350 from kits before sending the aircraft to completion
centres, where the customer-specified interiors, instrumentation and special
equipment are installed.