EADS North America Expands its U.S. Industrial Presence With New American Eurocopter Facility in Mississippi
Columbus, Mississippi, 20 October 2004
EADS North America expanded its industrial presence in the United States today with the grand opening of the American Eurocopter manufacturing, assembly and customization facility in Columbus, Mississippi.
The new 85,500-sq. ft. plant – located at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport – will employ a staff of 100, including aircraft technicians and manufacturing and support personnel. The men and women will be responsible for the manufacturing, assembly and customization of Eurocopter aircraft. Eurocopter helicopters are the world’s most technologically advanced helicopters, and are valued by U.S. local, state and federal governments for homeland security, law enforcement, medical and other para-public missions.
Today’s grand opening was attended by EADS and Eurocopter corporate executives, business leaders, and national, state and local government officials, including Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, Congressman Roger Wicker, and Congressman Chip Pickering.
EADS Chief Executive Officer Philippe Camus said, “The Mississippi facility is a highly visible example of EADS’s policy to be a good ’corporate citizen’ by bringing high-value jobs into the major markets where the company is located.”
“At a time when many U.S. aerospace industry companies are outsourcing jobs, I am very proud to say we are adding high-value positions and expanding our capabilities in the U.S. – and Mississippi is a great place to do just that,” Camus told attendees at the opening ceremony.
Ralph D. Crosby, Jr., Chairman and CEO, EADS North America and a Member of the EADS Executive Committee, speaking at the opening ceremony said, “This new facility reflects EADS North America’s commitment to the United States and to the communities in which we operate, through investment in facilities, insourcing of jobs, and contributions to the U.S. aerospace and defense industrial base.”
Governor Haley Barbour, addressing the audience, stated, “On behalf of all Mississippians we are very excited to be affiliated with such a world class company. Having EADS locate in Columbus is not only good for Northeast Mississippi, it’s good for all of Mississippi.”
Representing the First Congressional District of Mississippi, Congressman Roger Wicker stated, “American Eurocopter is already having a big impact on the economy of the Golden Triangle, and this is only the beginning.”
Congressman Chip Pickering, of Mississippi’s Third Congressional District, said, “This cooperation between our Mississippi business community, EADS, and American Eurocopter means more jobs and economic development for the Golden Triangle area.”
“With these responsibilities, the Mississippi facility will not only play an important role in American Eurocopter’s business development in the United States, it also will be directly involved in Eurocopter’s worldwide production and support activities,” said Eurocopter President Fabrice Bregier. “This is an excellent example of how Eurocopter and EADS bring new business and jobs into the United States.”
Work is already underway at the Columbus facility, where the initial Eurocopter AS 350 AStar helicopters have been delivered to customers following their assembly, customization and completion. The first corporate EC 120 helicopter processed in the facility was handed over to its new owner, Randy Poag, President, Pacer Communications, Irvine, California, during today’s opening ceremony.
American Eurocopter President Marc Paganini reaffirmed that 55 U.S. Border Patrol EC 120 helicopters will be assembled at the Mississippi facility under terms of a $75 million contract recently awarded by the Department of Homeland Security. “Our motivated and skilled workforce is committed to satisfying the most demanding customers, and we are ready to supply helicopters that will be on the front lines of America’s homeland security efforts,” he said.
In addition to its assembly and completion work on AS 350 and EC 120 helicopters, the Columbus facility also will have manufacturing responsibilities. The plant has begun fabrication of aft fuselage parts for AS 350s assembled in both the U.S. and France. The Mississippi facility also will produce components for re-engining kits that will improve the performance of Eurocopter HH-65 Dolphin helicopters in service with the U.S. Coast Guard.
The Mississippi facility will be the worldwide center of excellence for Eurocopter’s re-engining and modernization work on the global fleet of AS 365/HH-65 Dauphin/Dolphin helicopters, which are in service with the United States Coast Guard, para-public, law enforcement, civil and corporate operators. The first model conversion from the N1 to the more advanced N3 version at the facility is nearing completion on an AS 365 N1 helicopter from Pennsylvania’s Hershey Medical Center. A second helicopter will begin the process in the coming weeks.
The selection of Columbus as the site for American Eurocopter’s second U.S. facility was based on a number of factors. It is in the Golden Triangle region, which has a rich aviation heritage. The nearby Columbus Air Force Base is home to the U.S. Air Force’s 14th Flying Training Wing, while Mississippi State University has 70 years of aerospace engineering experience and today includes the Raspet Flight Research Laboratory – which performs flight research/testing of manned and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and carries out research on the fabrication of innovative composite structures for rapid prototype development.
About American Eurocopter (www.eurocopterusa.com)
American Eurocopter Corporation (AEC) is the American subsidiary of Eurocopter, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world, and EADS North America, the North American operations of EADS, the second largest aerospace and defense company 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. American Eurocopter’s headquarters and main facility are in Grand Prairie, TX, with a large new factory in Columbus, Mississippi.
About EADS North America (www.eadsnorthamerica.com)
EADS North America is the North American operations of EADS, the second largest aerospace and defense company in the world. As a leader in all sectors of aerospace, defense and homeland security, EADS North America and its parent company, EADS, contribute more than $6 billion to the U.S. economy annually, and support more than 100,000 American jobs through its network of suppliers and services. With 12 operating companies located in 39 American cities and 21 states, EADS North America offers a broad array of advanced solutions to its customers in commercial, civil,
para-public and defense markets across the United States.
EADS North America Subsidiaries:
EADS North America Defense Company, Arlington, VA; ARC Information Assurance Institute, San Antonio, TX; American Eurocopter LLC, Grand Prairie, TX; EADS Aeroframe Services, LLC, Lake Charles, LA; EADS CASA North America, Chantilly, VA; EADS Sogerma Barfield, Inc., Miami, FL; Socata Aircraft, Inc., Pembroke Pines, FL; EADS Supply & Services, Rockville, MD; EADS TELECOM North America, Frisco, TX; Fairchild Controls Corporation, Frederick, MD; TYX, Reston, VA.
Diane Murphy
EADS North America
Tel.: (703) 236-3300
mailto: diane.murphy@eadsnorthamerica.com
Brenda Reuland
American Eurocopter
Tel.: (972) 641-3679
mailto: brenda.reuland@eurocopterusa.com
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
