Eurocopter Romania Delivered First Refurbished RAF Puma

Eurocopter, July 06, 2004 - An important phase has been covered on the delivery, today, in Brasov, to the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom, of the first Puma helicopter completely refurbished and overhauled by Eurocopter Romania.

After the investments made in 2002 and 2003 to provide Eurocopter Romania with a modern production hall, this delivery demonstrates factually what the company is capable of offering on the worldwide, highly competitive market, referring to overhaul/repair and upgrading works for both civil and military Puma helicopters.

Starting this moment by the end of the year, other three PUMA helicopters will be delivered to the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom.

Another important phase will be covered at the beginning of September on starting the upgrading works for 24 PUMA helicopters belonging to the UAE Armed Forces, in cooperation with S.C. IAR S.A. Brasov. The works are complex, looking at a complete re-motorization, the installation of a new automatic pilot and of a new avionics system.

In the same time, Eurocopter Romania develops its activities so that it may cover the civil market needs in Romania as well as in the neighboring countries.

Thus, at the beginning of January, the company was certified by the Romanian Civil Aeronautical Authority, as per European regulations, as a JAR 145 repair and overhaul centre for the EC 135 helicopter. This agreement allows the company to assure the technical support for the civil customers operating such type of helicopter in Romania. Two such helicopters are going to be delivered next week to the Ministry of Health. An extension of this agreement is in preparation for other types of helicopters (EC 120, EC 155, AS 350, AS 365) in order to cover the entire range of helicopters currently operated in Romania by both civil and para-public customers.