CHC selects EC 225 for North Sea Offshore Services – two firm Orders and four Options signed

HELI-ONE, a fully incorporated branch of CHC Helicopter Corporation announces proudly with Eurocopter its selection of the EC 225 for oil and gas offshore services in the North Sea. The company has confirmed its initial commitment from 2001 and proceeded with the purchase of 2 helicopters. Additionally, HELI-ONE placed additional options to anticipate its activity growth in an increasing market demand for heavy helicopters. Two of these EC 225s will be operated for Total E&P UK PLC under a five-year contract awarded in October. This brings total 2005 orders for the EC 225 for the oil and gas market to eight firm orders plus four options.

CHC Helicopter Corporation is the world’s largest provider of helicopter services to the global offshore oil and gas industry, with aircraft operating in more than 30 countries. CHC is currently Eurocopter biggest civilian Super Puma family operator with 30 Mark 1, 18 Mark 2 flying around the world (Malaysia, Australia, Angola, United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, Canada, Brazil,…) and now onwards with the EC 225.

The aircraft will be financed and supported by Heli-One, the world's largest independent helicopter support company. Building on more than 25 years' experience supporting the Super Puma and Super Puma MK2, Heli-One will provide total support for the advanced EC 225, including power by the hour and nose-to-tail maintenance support. Heli-One supports the world's largest fleet of Super Puma and Super Puma Mk2 aircraft, providing financial, maintenance and logistics support to five operators around the world and a global fleet of 50 Super Puma aircraft in six countries.

This brings total 2005 orders for the EC 225 for the oil and gas market to eight firm orders plus four options.

Eurocopter is very proud to see the EC 225 being selected for serving Total E&P UK operations in the harsh North Sea environment. The EC 225 benefits from many technological enhancements from the whole Eurocopter product line and sets new standards of safety, comfort and performance for offshore services.

More than 30 orders for the EC 225 and its military variant, the EC 725, have been booked to date, with orders for the Super Puma/Cougar/EC 225/EC 725 family amounting to nearly 700 units.

The EC 225 is the latest member of Eurocopter’s twin-engine, mid-range Super Puma helicopter family (11 metric ton class). Its mission focus lies on passenger transport – in particular offshore and VIP, but also for public service missions such as Search and Rescue (SAR). It has an initial take-off weight of 10.4 metric tons and significantly increased performance capabilities such as a new-five-bladed main rotor system, a reinforced main rotor gear box, and an integrated display and piloting system.

Eurocopter is a wholly-owned subsidiary of EADS. EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2004, EADS generated revenues of € 31.8 billion and employed a workforce of about 110,000. The EADS Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world's largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter and the joint venture MBDA, the international leader in missile systems. 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.

European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V.
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