EADS Announces Groundbreaking for New American Eurocopter Assembly Facility
Mississippi Plant Signifies the Continued Commitment of EADS to Industrial Investment in the U.S.
Columbus/Mississippi, 07 August 2003
EADS, the world’s second largest aerospace and defence company, broke ground on a new manufacturing facility in Columbus, Mississippi on Thursday, extending the U.S. operations of its Eurocopter helicopter manufacturing and service subsidiary, American Eurocopter. The company will make an initial 11 million Dollar investment into this new presence and will engage a workforce of over 100.
The groundbreaking event was attended by representatives from government and business in Mississippi, including Mississippi Senator Trent Lott.
The new American Eurocopter plant will assemble helicopters made by Eurocopter, the world’s leading producer of rotary winged aircraft, and will be operated by its U.S. unit, American Eurocopter Corporation (AEC). This plant will perform the final assembly and flight testing for the best selling A-Star series helicopters. There are currently 500 A-Stars (AS 350 in Europe) service flying in the U.S., which American Eurocopter sells at a rate of around 40 per year in the U.S. The final assembly for the EC120, EC130, EC135, and EC155 will be performed in Mississippi, as well as the manufacturing of components and subassemblies for the AS 350 family of aircraft.
EADS CEO, Philippe Camus, speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony said, “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 government customers. Mississippi provides the ideal business location for our continued success.“
Camus continued, “Under the leadership of EADS North America Chairman and CEO, Ralph Crosby, we are expanding our role as a valued citizen in the U.S. This is the first of many industrial milestones in the U.S., and we can envision increased production presence in defence and commercial aerospace in the future.”
Senator Lott stated, “We welcome EADS North America and its subsidiary, American Eurocopter, as citizens to Mississippi. The decision to locate their first U.S. helicopter manufacturing facility in Mississippi will bring high-tech jobs and build on our state’s rich aviation heritage.”
EADS North America CEO, Ralph Crosby emphasized, “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 as partners in growth.”
There are nearly 400 U.S. customers for American Eurocopter, America’s largest helicopter provider. for para-public and commercial helicopters, from law enforcement agencies, federal government agencies, corporate customers, to tourism. Customers in the U.S. include the U.S. Coast Guard, which operates approximately 100 Eurocopter HH 65 helicopters (in Europe Dauphin), the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs, FBI, the Los Angeles County Sheriff, and many more.
The President and CEO of American Eurocopter, Marc Paganini, will be responsible for managing the staff and operations of this plant. Paganini said, “We have found the right home here in Mississippi: a strong community spirit and talented employees. We will grow here, creating the finest helicopters in the world, while being good corporate citizens in the local community.”
About EADS:
EADS is the second largest aerospace and Defence Company in the world with revenues of € 29.9 billion in the year 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 the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world's largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter 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.
About EADS North America:
EADS North America is the holding company for the North American activities of EADS, one of the world’s largest aerospace and defence companies. As a leader in all sectors of the defence and aerospace markets, EADS North America and its parent company, EADS contributes over $6 billion to the U.S. annually through its nationwide network of suppliers. With eleven 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 defence customers across the US. To learn more, please visit the EADS North America website at: www.northamerica.eads.net.
Contact for Communications:
Rainer Ohler
Tel: +49 89 607 34235
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
