New agreements announced during this week’s Dubai Airshow (13-17 November 2011) further enhance Eurocopter’s footprint in the Middle East and Asia, creating a cooperative maintenance program for Royal Jordanian Air Force AS 332 M1 Super Puma helicopters, establishing customer support services with Global Aerospace Logistics to serve the United Arab Emirates’ Armed Forces, and marking the sale of one EC130 B4 to Pakistan’s Princely Jets.

The maintenance contract with Jordan covers G-level major inspection for 10 Royal Jordanian Air Force Super Puma AS 332 M1s, which is performed every 12 years.

This major agreement represents a new step in the longstanding relationship between the Royal Jordanian Air Force and Eurocopter, and involves a cooperative training and work-sharing arrangement.  The initial three helicopters will be inspected by Eurocopter, which is to provide associated on-the-job training that will enable Royal Jordanian Air Force to perform G-level checks on the remaining seven Super Pumas in Jordan.

Jordan has operated Eurocopter helicopters for more than 30 years.  In addition to the AS332 Super Pumas -  which are used for troop transport and search & rescue, the Royal Jordanian Air Forces’ current Eurocopter fleet also includes AS350s for pilot training and VIP airlift, along with EC635s for multi-mission duties.  In addition, the Jordan Public Security Air Wing operates EC635s and BO105s.

Eurocopter’s agreement with Global Aerospace Logistics, LLC (GAL) marks another element in its strategy of local presence, providing customer support services to further strengthen Eurocopter’s profile in the United Arab Emirates and enhance the company’s capability to serve the UAE Armed Forces.

GAL is an Abu Dhabi-based supplier of professional aerospace services in the UAE, and the new agreement with Eurocopter establishes it as a provider of routine customer support services for the UAE Navy and UAE Presidential Guard Command - including new spare parts, repairs, training and technical publications.

During the past several years, GAL has been providing daily operational and intermediate aviation maintenance at a highly professional level for Eurocopter helicopters flown by both the UAE Navy and UAE Presidential Guard Command.

“By joining forces, Eurocopter and GAL will meet the daily operational needs of the UAE Navy and UAE Presidential Guard Command, ensuring proficient fleet maintenance of the Ecureuil, Fennec, Dauphin, Panther and Super Puma helicopters operated in the Emirates,” said Xavier Hay, Eurocopter’s Vice President for Middle East and Africa.  “This partnership confirms Eurocopter’s dedication to enhancing its local UAE presence in serving all governmental and civil operators of its helicopters, and we welcome GAL to our network of customer support services providers.”

The sales agreement signed with Pakistan’s Princely Jets involves one EC130 B4 in a corporate configuration to be delivered in June 2012.  The deal also covers Eurocopter’s provision of spares and services for this rotary-wing aircraft.

Photo Caption: From left to right: Brigadier General ( R ) Dr. Hassan Yousuf Al Awadhi, GAL CEO with Olivier Lambert, Senior Vice President, Eurocopter Sales & Customer Relations.