EUROCOPTER M'SIA COMMITTED TO ENSURING SUCCESSUL INAUGURATION OF MRO FACILITY

PETALING JAYA, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- Eurocopter Malaysia is committed to
ensuring the successful inauguration of a new maintainance, repair and overhaul
(MRO) facility and the EC225/EC725 flight training simulator in the country.

Its President and Chief Executive Officer, Pierre Nardelli said the
company has to date, invested more than RM40 million (US$1=RM3.4) in its
facilities in Malaysia.

"We expect to enlarge our activities in establishing the simulator centre
for Asia, particular for the oil and gas industry," Nardelli told a media
briefing on its latest addition, the EC175 helicopter, here Thursday.

"We hope to progressively make even more investments as there are many
activities in Malaysia," he said.

Eurocopter Malaysia is the only helicopter manufacturer with a comprehensive
MRO service centre in Malaysia and was incorporated in 2002.

Eurocopter in 2009, recorded a turnover growth of 58 per cent in Asia to
reach Euro 896 million.

According to Nardelli, the business has also maintained a stable booking
value over the last few years in Asia, to achieve Euro 504 million.

Eurocopter delivered a total of 558 new civil and military helicopters in
2009.

On the EC175, Nardelli said Eurocopter is confident, it will set a
new standard for medium range helicopters for the oil and gas industry in
future.

Launched in December 2008, the EC175 is the newest addition to the
Eurocopter family in the seven metric tonne class. It was developed and will be
manufactured in cooperation with the China Aeronautics Industries Group Corp, a
Eurocopter partner.

He said a total of 114 EC175 have already been ordered by 14 different
customers.

The first deliveries are scheduled to follow in 2012 and certification of
the EC175 by the European Aviation Safety Agency is slated for 2011.

Nardelli disclosed that Eurocopter expects to sell 800 EC175s over the next
twenty years.

"This medium-lift, twin engine helicopter, was developed in close
cooperation with our customers to ensure it perfectly fulfills their needs,
particularly in terms of safety and comfort," he explained.

"It benefits from a mix of proven and advanced technologies, making it a
very performing, cost-effective and reliable helicopter," he said.

-- BERNAMA