Two of Eurocopter’s newest members in its twin-engine helicopter family - the next-generation EC175 and evolved EC145 T2 – are coming to Asia for a three-week demonstration tour with operators in the oil and gas, VIP, corporate, charter, military and law enforcement segments.

In addition to providing opportunities to experience the performance and capabilities of these rotorcraft, Eurocopter’s Asian tour also will include a two-day symposium for the oil and gas sector, where the region’s operators and customers will participate in presentations and workshops related to off-shore helicopter missions - with topics ranging from support and services to safety and training.

During the December 02-19 tour, Malaysia and Thailand will be visited by the EC145 T2 and EC175, with Vietnam also on the EC175’s schedule.

The two-day oil and gas seminar is to take place in Kuala Lumpur during the Malaysian stopover. Such meetings have been organized by Eurocopter during the past 10 years, bringing together international operators, potential new customers and oil companies in a setting that encourages open dialogue among all stakeholders.

“Our upcoming tour enables operators to experience how the EC175 and EC145 T2 respond to the dynamic Asian market’s requirements for heliborne services across a broad range of missions. The oil and gas seminar is an excellent forum for the exchange of information in this challenging operational sector for helicopters,” said Olivier Lambert, Eurocopter’s Senior Vice President, Sales and Customer Relations.

Eurocopter is bringing the first production EC175 for the Asian tour, with this rotorcraft configured for oil and gas airlift duties. The EC145 T2 deployed for Eurocopter’s Asian visits is in a corporate configuration, following its flight demonstrations in Abu Dhabi and the Dubai Airshow. Also highlighted during the Malaysian stopover will be the EC175’s adaptability to the executive and VIP markets. Its executive version seats 9-12 passengers, with a full-scale EC175 mockup being displayed in Kuala Lumpur configured with seating for 10.

Enhancing the EC175’s high levels of mission flexibility and safety is its new Helionix avionics suite, which extends the superiority of in-flight envelope protection, pilot assistance and situational awareness that have been proven on Eurocopter’s EC225 helicopter.

EASA certification of the EC175 is targeted in early 2014, which will be the final program step prior to deliveries for the first three customers the same year.

The EC145 T2 is an evolved version of Eurocopter’s popular twin-engine EC145, incorporating new double Fadec Arriel 2E engines along with the company’s Fenestron shrouded tail rotor, upgraded main and tail rotor gear boxes; as well as a new innovative digital avionics suite with 4-axis autopilot.

The EC145 T2’s certification and start-up of deliveries are planned in 2014.