NEW DELHI, Feb 15 – Indian business aviation firm, Aviator, on Thursday signed an order for supply of seven EC135 helicopters from chopper major Eurocopter to be used for emergency medical services, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
The firm’s order for an initial batch of seven Eurocopter EC135s for helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) operations was signed by the two companies in the presence of French President Francois Hollande.
A second order is expected to be carried out later this year and rapid growth is anticipated in the HEMS market as many as 50 helicopters are expected to be deployed throughout the country in the coming years, Eurocopter said in a statement. This is one of the first chopper orders placed by an Indian company for HEMS purposes.
With first deliveries planned to take place by late this year, the Bangalore-based Aviators is establishing itself as a pioneering HEMS operator in India.
“As the EC135 is a global reference in helicopter emergency medical services, it is highly appropriate that Aviators will introduce such operations in India with these extremely capable helicopters,” Eurocopter’s Senior Vice
President for Asia Pacific Norbert Ducrot said.
The EC135 is operated worldwide for a broad range of missions, including HEMS, law enforcement, rescue operations and business aviation. Eurocopter is part of the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group and a division of the global aerospace and defence conglomerate, European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS). There are currently over 11,780 Eurocopter civil and military helicopters in service in 148 countries.
BERNAMA
