Franco-German manufacturer Eurocopter has launched its EC120 light helicopter in the USA with the announcement of its first order, the setting up of a "new-look" customer-support organisation and a new name for the single-engined five-seater.
Danish operator Unifly of Svendborg has ordered an EC120 as an addition to the three Ecureuils which it uses for crop-spraying and pipeline-surveillance roles. Delivery is expected at the end of this year - in line with the expected start of series production.
European Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) technical meetings leading to the aircraft's European certification were completed on 29 January. Full JAA certification is expected by March, with US Federal Aviation Administration clearance scheduled to follow shortly afterwards.
According to Eurocopter Deutschland chairman and chief executive Dr Siegfried Sobotta, the delay between certification and first delivery is because the manufacturer wants the aircraft to have "a controlled introduction to the market". The EC120 will be manufactured jointly by Eurocopter, CATIC/HAMC of China and Singapore Technologies Aerospace. Production rates will match orders says Sobotta, who adds that "-there will be no inventory build-up".
The introductory purchase price of $770,000 for the EC120, which has been renamed the "Kolibri" in French or the "Humingbird" in English, will be maintained through until the end of 1998.
Eurocopter is setting up a new customer-support network for EC120 operators as a result of market surveys which predict that many of the aircraft will be sold into the corporate sector. The network is based on "a decentralisation of sales and support resources" and will provide service centres "no more than 400nm [750km] from the customer's operating base", says the company.
Sobotta says that, in the past, Eurocopter has allowed Bell to dominate the light-single end of the market, but he says that the Humingbird will now make an impact. "From a technology point of view, and price wise, we will make it," he says.
Source: Flight International
