The Hindu Business Line : JSPL acquires Eurocopter's EC145

Military and civil helicopter leader Eurocopter said its EC145 has landed in the domestic market with its first sale made to Jindal Steel and Power Ltd for executive transport.

The four-tonne, twin-engine helicopter can carry a pilot and nine passengers. It reached Delhi on Tuesday, a release said.

Of late, quite a few industrial majors have made inquiries of another product, the EC135, for corporate and VIP use, a Eurocopter spokesperson said in a response to Business Line. "We are eager to further enlarge our current market share of about 50 per cent (through) the upcoming corporate market, offering products like EC145 and EC135."

These are targeted at law enforcement and corporate travel. Fleet operators such as Pawan Hans and Global Vectra use the larger EC155 and the Dauphin N3.

More demand

Eurocopter, the 3.2-billion defence and civil helicopter arm of European behemoth EADS, said the Indian demand for its helicopters is increasing. According to Mr Norbert Ducrot, Vice-President Asia-Pacific, "India is an upcoming market for modern helicopters to be used for corporate and private needs. A VIP segment is emerging due to the economic growth, which necessitates safe, fast and long-distance travel for executives." This year, it expanded the technical support team and set up a liaison office in Bangalore.

Eurocopter opened its Indian relationship in the 1960s with a licence to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd to make 600 Chetaks and Cheetahs, precursors to its present Ecureuil/Fennec. It also co-developed and provided the rotor system for the indigenous light helicopter Dhruv. Since June this year, HAL has been making Ecureuil aero structures.

JSPL's aircraft has been customised with executive interiors, external speakers and full air conditioning. Earlier JSPL's Chief Pilot, Capt. Daman Seigell, received the aircraft in Germany in the presence of Mr Rainer Farid, regional Sales Director for India.

Twenty new civil EC145s have been ordered apart from 300 for the US Army, forcing Eurocopter to raise its 2006 production rate at Donauwoerth in Germany from 25 to 30. With 9500 of its copters in use worldwide, it holds 30 per cent of the civil copter market and has orders for 400 more, or over half the market.