EADS NORTH AMERICA CELEBRATES GROUNDBREAKING FOR NEW AMERICAN EUROCOPTER FACILITY
Mississippi Site Signifies Continued Commitment of EADS North America to Industrial Investment in the U.S.
Columbus/Mississippi, 07 August 2003
EADS North America extended its operations into Mississippi Thursday, with the groundbreaking of a new American Eurocopter site in Columbus. American Eurocopter is making an $11 million investment into this new facility, with an initial workforce of one hundred. The American Eurocopter facility is located at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport, an area rich in aviation heritage, and near regional universities that have strong engineering and high technology programs.
The groundbreaking event was attended by EADS corporate executives, business leaders, and national and local government officials, including U.S. Senators Thad Cochran and Trent Lott; U.S. Representatives Roger Wicker, and Chip Pickering; and Executive Director Nick Ardillo, of the Golden Triangle Regional Airport.
EADS CEO, Philippe Camus, speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony said: “EADS is very pleased to open this modern production facility in the Golden Triangle Region. We are determined to increase our already significant role in the U.S. economy, providing employment and quality products for U.S. corporate, para-public, and governmental customers. Mississippi provides the ideal business location for our continued success. This is the first of many industrial milestones we intend for the U.S., and we can envision increased production presence in defense and commercial aerospace in the near future.”
EADS North America Chairman and CEO, Ralph Crosby stated: “We are pleased to have EADS North America become a Mississippi enterprise. Our growing industrial presence in the U.S. gives EADS a significant foothold to play an intensified role in the U.S. economy, reach our North American customers more effectively, and invest in communities like Columbus, as partners in growth.”
The President and CEO of American Eurocopter, Marc Paganini, based at the Texas facility, will be responsible for the staff and operations of the new plant. “We have found the right home in Mississippi, a community strong in spirit and talented employees,” said Paganini.“ We will grow here, creating the finest helicopters in the world, while being good corporate citizens to this community.”
American Eurocopter is the largest provider in the United States for commercial and homeland defense helicopters. The nearly 400 customers flying over 1300 aircraft in the United States include: the U.S. Coast Guard, which operates approximately 100 Eurocopter helicopters, the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs, FBI, Federal, State and Local Government Agencies, Emergency Medical (EMS), Corporate customers, and Tourism. The two helicopters currently in production in the American Eurocopter temporary facility in Columbus are to be delivered to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.
In remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony, U.S. Senator Thad Cochran stated: "This new facility is a major step in our efforts to make Mississippi the cornerstone of innovation in aerospace and homeland security."
U.S. Senator Trent Lott remarked: “We welcome EADS North America and American Eurocopter as citizens to Mississippi. The decision to locate their first U.S. helicopter manufacturing facility in Mississippi will bring high-tech jobs to our Golden Triangle Region and build on our state’s rich aviation heritage.”
The new plant will be operated by American Eurocopter LLC, a subsidiary of Eurocopter, the world’s leading producer of rotary winged aircraft. This plant will perform the final assembly and flight-testing for its best-selling A-Star series. American Eurocopter sells approximately 40 A-Stars per year in the U.S., and there are currently about 500 A-Stars in service in the country today. The customization for the EC120, EC130, EC135, EC145 and EC155 also will be performed in Mississippi, as well as the manufacturing of components and subassemblies for the AS350 family of aircraft.
About EADS:
EADS is the second largest aerospace and defense company in the world, with revenues of EUR 29.9 billion in 2002, and a workforce of more than 100,000. It is a systems integrator and as such, is one of the few companies worldwide capable of combining various products and technologies to form complete systems and offering the associated services. The EADS Group includes Airbus, the world’s largest aircraft manufacturer; Eurocopter, the world's largest helicopter supplier; and the joint venture MBDA, the second largest missile producer in the global market. EADS is the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium, is the prime contractor for the Ariane launcher, develops the A400M military transport aircraft, and is the largest industrial partner for the European satellite navigation system, Galileo. To learn more, please visit the EADS North America website at: www.eads.net.
About EADS North America:
EADS North America is the holding company for the North American activities of EADS. As a leader in all sectors of the defense and aerospace markets, EADS North America and its parent company, EADS, contribute more than $6 billion annually to the U.S. economy through its nationwide network of suppliers. With ten operating units and investments in ten states and the District of Columbia, EADS North America offers a broad array of advanced solutions to its customers in the commercial, homeland security, and defense markets across the United States. To learn more, please visit the EADS North America website at: www.northamerica.eads.net.
About American Eurocopter:
American Eurocopter Corporation (AEC) is the American subsidiary of Eurocopter, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world. AEC markets, sells and supports the broadest range of civil and para-public helicopters offered by any manufacturer. The product line represents the most cost-effective, technologically advanced helicopters, ranging from light single to heavy twin, serving all markets and missions. To learn more, visit AEC’s website at www.eurocopterusa.com.
Note to Editors:
Digital photos will be available on the web at: http://www.eads.net, see our groundbreaking Photo Library of images from the Mississippi event.
Broadcast-quality video will be available on the web at: http://www.thenewsmarket.com/eads
Contact:
Diane Murphy
EADS North America
Tel: (202) 776-0988
Cell:(202) 257-0596
Brenda Reuland
American Eurocopter
Tel: (972) 641-3679
Cell:(214) 616-6597
Lawrence Stein
AGG International
Tel: (202) 223-5007
Cell: (646) 267 2222
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