Eurocopter has signed an agreement with Kazakhstan Engineering to formalise a joint venture to assemble and customise EC145 helicopters at a new facility at Astana airport.
Its new Kazakh operation will this year manufacture and supply the first six of 45 EC145s for the Kazakh government. The helicopters will be delivered in 2016.
The aircraft will be used by the country's defence ministry and the ministry of emergency situations for medevac and search and rescue missions, said Eurocopter.
Eurocopter said the joint venture will develop local maintenance and training capabilities to support EC145 operations in the country and across the wider region.
Meanwhile, the airframer will supply a fourth EC225 to Danish operator Blueway, which is expanding its North Sea oil and gas services in support of a contract with Maersk Oil.
The helicopter will be based in Esbjerg, Denmark.
Source: Flight International