DGA Orders Five Eurocopter EC145 Helicopters for Securite Civile

Released on Thursday, December 13, 2007

Délégation Générale pour l'Armement (DGA) signed a contract with Eurocopter for 5 new EC145 (3 firm and 2 options) to be used by Sécurité Civile. The aircraft will be delivered from January 2009 enabling Sécurité Civile to face out the remaining 6 Alouette III helicopters.

This contract will allow Sécurité Civile, who is the launching customer of the EC145, to complete its current fleet of 30 EC145 that were delivered between 2001 and 2005. The actual EC145 fleet of Sécurité Civile has acumulated over 60 000 flight hours. This fleet is used for the following missions: Rescue, Fire fighting, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Surveillance and Law Enforcement. The EC145 are deployed on 22 Sécurité Civile bases located in France and in the French Overseas Territories.

The EC145 is Eurocopter's latest entry into the light twin-engine helicopter market, providing an excellent combination of proven and new technologies. This modern platform is designed with multi-mission capabilities thanks to the inherent flexibility of its cabin, together with its payload/range performance and its role-adaptable mission systems, Powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 1E2 engines, the EC145 can carry one or two pilots and eight or nine passengers. With a fast cruise speed of 135 kts, an advanced night vision goggle compatible glass cockpit, digital autopilot for both single or dual pilot applications and an endurance of up to 3.5 hours, the EC145 is a top performer in medical evacuation, police and homeland security missions. It has also been ordered by the U.S. Army as its new-generation Light Utility Helicopter (LUH).