500 deliveries for EC145 helicopter

Eurocopter has delivered the
500^th and 501^st EC145 helicopter to Mexican operator
Transportes Aereos Pegaso. Pegaso is the largest Mexican operator in the Gulf of Mexico. The company already operates 13 EC145s
and four of the predecessor BK117 versions, with an additional EC145 to be provided
to them in May.

Delivery of the 500th EC145
occurred at Eurocopter’s Donauwörth,
Germany
facility, where the helicopter is built.

The handover comes 10 years after Eurocopter’s
delivery of the first EC145 in April 2002. The handover was witnessed by
Francisco Nicolas Gonzalez Diaz, the Ambassador of Mexico in Germany, along
with political and industrial representatives and some 600 company employees
who have contributed to the helicopter’s successful production run.

“This delivery underscores
the EC145’s global success, which results from the capabilities and reliability
designed into Eurocopter’s helicopters,” said Wolfgang Schoder, Eurocopter
executive vice president programmes. “It is highly appropriate that we share
the milestone with Pegaso – a longstanding partner of our company that also
operates a Eurocopter-approved maintenance center for the EC145 and EC135 in Mexico.”

Pegaso use their helicopters
in support of the offshore oil and gas platforms in the Gulf
of Mexico; the company operates the BK117, BO105, EC130, EC135 and
EC155. Pegaso also is a launch customer for the EC175.

“We rely on the durability
and performance of Eurocopter helicopters in our daily operations, with the
EC145 assigned some of our company’s most demanding missions,” stated Pegaso
chief executive officer Enrique Zepeda.

Dominique Maudet, Eurocopter’s
executive vice president global business and services, said about the long
lasting relationship: “Throughout our thirty-year relationship, our technical
and sales teams have worked closely with you to understand your needs and
accompany your development wihile helping you optimize your fleet operations.
Eurocopter will continue to provide you with all of the solutions you need to
further expand your business, including highly competitive helicopters with
excellent rates of availability, as well as customized services.”

Eurocopter has delivered the
EC145 helicopter to some 100 customers in 38 countries.

Photograph ©
Copyright
Eurocopter, Charles Abarr – (from left to right): Enrique Zepeda, chief executive Transportes Aereos Pegaso, Francisco Nicolas Gonzalez Diaz, the Ambassador of Mexico in Germany, Dominique
Maudet, Eurocopter’s executive vice president global
business and services, Wolfgang Schoder, Eurocopter’s
executive vice president of programmes