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Eurocopter CEO’s Speech
In his New Year's greetings to the Press, Eurocopter CEO Dr. Lutz Bertling stated: “One year ago, I had just taken up my position of CEO and believed 2006 was a historical year in terms of order bookings. Well, I underestimated what we were able to achieve in 2007. Bookings were up by nearly 200 helicopters while our deliveries increased by more than 100 units in comparison to 2006, so ramping up production was the order of the day, and will remain so for some time to come. Clearly, our delivery numbers in 2008 will have to be even higher. We have seen growth in all market segments. The oil and gas industry clearly takes the lead. As natural resources become scarce and prices go up, more exploration and extraction is done in more remote areas as well as offshore, thus increasing the need for new helicopters. Hot on the heels is the VIP/corporate market, proving that helicopters have finally arrived as an accepted tool in business aviation. Law enforcement remains a strong market, as does EMS, followed by the utility/tourism and military markets. We have again raised our export share in 2007, which proves the success of our strategy to focus on growing and emerging markets by means of excellent products and fruitful industrial cooperation, combined with an enlarged industrial footprint in the major customer countries and strong efforts to constantly optimize our service network”.
He continued: “Being at home in many countries, which I termed being a multi-local player last year, has led to further growth of our international industrial presence. We inaugurated our new Spanish plant in Albacete, founded Eurocopter UK, and took up full business activities at Eurocopter China last year. As we delivered more NH 90s, additional NH 90 assembly lines came into action. Patria in Finland delivered its first Finnish-built NH 90 in 2007, while the first kits have arrived at Australian Aerospace which will commence deliveries of Australian-assembled NH 90s this year. In December, we delivered the first 2 NH 90 to Australia on schedule. We delivered up to now, 18 UH-72A Lakotas to the US Army on time and on quality, and are progressively transferring Lakota production to our US subsidiary, American Eurocopter in Mississippi, precisely on schedule. We intensified our cooperation with Korea by signing an agreement for the commercialization of the KHP on top of the development contract we already had, and we are on schedule with the development of the EC 175 jointly with China.”
“It is my belief that Eurocopter must not only be a mission solution provider to its customers, but also a fully-fledged service provider. During 2007, we set up a 24/7 hotline service center for our customers; we created a Fleet Safety Directorate; we inaugurated an EC 135 simulator center; we established a new maintenance center in Abu Dhabi together with Falcon Air Services; and we opened a Joint Project Office with the British MoD for the RAF Puma upgrade. Continuing the ramp-up, extending our line of services and managing the global supply chain are major keys to market success”, Bertling concluded.
Challenges for 2008
In line with the 2020 agenda of its parent company, EADS, and facing a highly volatile market, Eurocopter has identified the challenges ahead for 2008 and beyond and established a roadmap focusing on the following targets: continue to efficiently manage the ramp up by further optimising the industrial processes; achieve key economic targets as set by EADS; cope with long-term low dollar value; successfully deliver the NH 90 and ensure its qualifications and smooth entry into service; manage international programs such as the LUH, KHP and EC 175; deliver outstanding mission capabilities, maintain leadership in innovation and continuous fleet upgrade; focus on technical challenges such as operational economics, ergonomics, fleet safety and general cost reduction and environmental compatibility; continue internationalization and enhance Eurocopter’s key player role in emerging markets by involving local industry; further develop services portfolio and maintain a balance between civil/military and platform/services business.
By adhering to this roadmap, Eurocopter is confident to remain leader in the civil and parapublic market in 2008. Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a Division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defence and related services. The Eurocopter Group employs approx. 14,000 people. In 2007, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s No. 1 helicopter manufacturer in the civil and parapublic market, with a turnover exceeding 4 billion Euros, orders for 802 new helicopters, and a 53 percent market share in the civil and parapublic sectors. Overall, the Group’s products account for 30 percent of the total world helicopter fleet. Its strong worldwide presence is ensured by its 17 subsidiaries on five continents, along with a dense network of distributors, certified agents and maintenance centres. More than 10,000 Eurocopter helicopters are currently in service with over 2,800 customers in 140 countries. Eurocopter offers the largest civil and military helicopter range in the world.
(From a press release by Eurocopter, Marseille-Marignane, France – January 22, 2008)In the picture: Aérospatiale (Sud Aviation) SE 3160 Alouette III HB-XOE of Air Glaciers (Switzerland), at Bex 2007. (Aeromedia)