Eurocopter hands over the first two of a total of sixteen EC135 rescue helicopters to the German Ministry of the Interior
The German Ministry of the Interior purchases latest generation helicopters for use in air rescue
Marignane, 31 January 2007
The German Ministry of the Interior, one of Eurocopter’s largest civilian customers worldwide, took delivery of the first pair of a total of sixteen EC135 air rescue helicopters at Eurocopter’s Donauwörth plant on January 31, 2007. Over the next two years, twelve air rescue sites will be equipped with these top-quality aircraft. The EC135 will replace the BO105 helicopters that have been in service up to now. With the EC135, the Ministry of the Interior has opted for not only the internationally topselling, but also the most up-to-date rescue helicopter. Numerous guests attended the handover ceremony, including politicians, representatives of German and foreign authorities, other air rescue services and industry as well as the media.
In total, the German Ministry of the Interior (BMI) and the German Federal Police, which belongs to the BMI, operates 84 Eurocopter helicopters -- 10 Alouette II, 25 EC135, 15 EC155, 11 Puma and 7 Super Puma -- for police operations and national security missions throughout Germany, as well as 16 BO 105 for air rescue operations. As the latest generation of civil defense helicopters, painted in bright orange livery, the EC135 will gradually replace the BO105. The handover of the first two EC135s for the “Orange Fleet” today marks the beginning of a new chapter in German air rescue. In addition to the 25 EC135 in service in the Police’s “Blue Fleet”, a harmonization of the helicopters used by the German Federal Police is also underway.
Dr. Lutz Bertling, President and CEO of Eurocopter, expressed his thanks to the representatives of the Ministry of the Interior, the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe, BKK) and the Federal Police flying corps present at the ceremony for the repeated vote of confidence and stated, “From a very early stage in our long history of cooperation over the past decades, the BMI has always demonstrated great farsightedness in opting for the latest models and state-of-the-art equipment for its varied mission scenarios. Time and time again it has chosen Eurocopter. As a professional partner with immense hands-on experience, the German Federal Police has often been the driving force behind numerous product improvements and the integration of progressive and forward-looking mission equipment such as the “HELLAS” obstacle warning system for helicopters for the new EC135 civil defense helicopters. During the evaluation phase of many international contracts the police has been very helpful to Eurocopter by acting as a neutral reference, as Police flying corps and air rescue services around the world look to their experience and choice of equipment.” The EC135 air rescue helicopters operated by the BMI are designated EC135 T2i, with increased payload, increased take-off power and improved performance at high altitude and high temperatures. They are fitted with a night vision goggle compatible screen cockpit, GPS navigation system, rapid-change, lightweight medical equipment, double hook cargo system certified for transporting patients and – a world-first in air rescue – the “HELLAS” active obstacle warning system.
The EC135 has become established in international air rescue as the most successful lightweight twin-engine helicopter of the new generation. About 250 EC135s are currently in service for SAR or EMS in 20 countries, which equates to a market share of around 80% in this class. Of these, about 150 are in used in Europe, being deployed on missions on land, at sea and in mountainous regions under all manner of weather conditions – flying under instrument flight conditions as well as visual flying conditions. A total of over 530 EC135s have been delivered worldwide since they were launched in 1996. Their great mission flexibility, exceptional maneuverability, and unchallenged 98 percent availability, customerfriendly maintenance schedules and environmental compatibility – the EC135’s noise emission is 7 dBA lower than the regulatory specification specified by the ICAO – make the EC135 the international benchmark in its class.
About Eurocopter
Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a Division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defense and related services. The Eurocopter Group employs approx. 14,000 people. In 2006, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s No. 1 helicopter manufacturer with a turnover of 3.8 billion euros, orders for 615 new helicopters, and a 52 percent market share in the civilian/commercial and parapublic sectors. Overall, the Group’s products account for 30 percent of the total world helicopter fleet. Its strong worldwide presence is ensured by its 16 subsidiaries on five continents, along with a dense network of distributors, certified agents and maintenance centers. More than 9,800 Eurocopter helicopters are currently in service with over 2,800 customers in 140 countries. Eurocopter offers the largest range of commercial and military helicopters in the world.
100 years of vertical flight
The first vertical flight ever made was made by Paul Cornu in 1907. Since then great pioneering spirit, technological advances and innovative ideas have turned the helicopter into an aircraft without which air rescue as we know it would be unimaginable and which makes a significant contribution towards the safety and protection of individuals and to economic development. Eurocopter is proud to join in celebrating this centenary and its own passion for helicopters in 2007.
For more information, please contact:
Jesus RUIZ
Eurocopter
Tel.: +34 91 379 66 04
Cellphone: +34 690 88 88 80
mailto: jesus.ruiz@eurocopter.com
Christina GOTZHEIN
Eurocopter
Tel.: + 49 (0) 89 60 00 64 88
Cellphone: +49 (0) 151 14 22 92 43
mailto: christina.gotzhein@eurocopter.com
Cécile VION-LANCTUIT
Eurocopter
Tel.: +33 (0) 1 49 34 45 55
Cellphone: +33 (0) 6 72 83 90 67
mailto: cecile.vion-lanctuit@eurocopter.com
Christopher BACH
Eurocopter
Tel.: +49 (0) 906 71 45 65
Cellphone: +49 (0) 151 14 22 90 89
mailto: christopher.bach@eurocopter.com
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