American Eurocopter Receives Historic D-Level Repair Designation

Dec. 3, 2009
American Eurocopter received D-Level certification from Eurocopter for the repair and overhaul of tailbooms and stabilizers for EC135 model aircraft; the first company to receive this designation outside of Europe.

Grand Prairie, TX – December 2, 2009 – In a celebration event on its Grand Prairie campus, American Eurocopter received D-Level certification from Eurocopter for the repair and overhaul of tailbooms and stabilizers for EC135 model aircraft. It becomes the first company to receive this designation outside of Europe.

“Our employees have worked very hard to achieve this designation,” said Marc Paganini, President and CEO of American Eurocopter. “This is very important for our future and it is another step in our development to better serve our customers.”

American Eurocopter can now perform all tailboom repairs for the EC135, EC145, BO105 and BK117 at its facility in Grand Prairie, TX. Earlier in the year, the company announced that it had expanded its certification for repairs on EC135 gearboxes.

“The award of this designation is fully inline with the MRO strategy of the Eurocopter Group to provide the most advanced service and support close to our customers,” stated Serge Panabiere, Eurocopter’s Vice President of Support & Services, Repair & Overhaul. “With this designation, American Eurocopter becomes the regional repair hub for North and South America, and will provide our customers with quicker turnarounds, decreased costs and increased satisfaction in their tailboom repairs.”

Sammy Pence, American Eurocopter Vice President of Commercial Programs and MRO, explains that the company will continue to expand its repair and overhaul programs to meet the demands of the customer. “2010 will be a busy year for us. D-level certification for our Blade shop is currently underway and by second quarter we expect to have a full airframe jig for the EC135/EC145. With these in place, we can perform any type of repair on qualified airframes.”

For more information about the types of repairs and services offered by American Eurocopter’s MRO department, contact Rod Lutz, Director of MRO, or Mike Richardson, Director After Market Sales, at (800) 873-0001, or visit the website at www.eurocopterusa.com.

About American Eurocopter

American Eurocopter is a helicopter manufacturer that produces, markets, sells and supports the broadest range of civil and para-public helicopters offered by any manufacturer in the United States. The company is a subsidiary of EADS North America Holdings, the North American operations of EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services, and is an affiliate of Eurocopter, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world. American Eurocopter’s product line represents the most cost-effective, technologically-advanced helicopters, ranging from light single to heavy twin, serving all markets and missions. Company headquarters and main facilities are located in Grand Prairie, TX, with a large manufacturing and production facility in Columbus, MS, that produces the UH-72A for the U.S. Army’s Light Utility Helicopter program.