Helibras,
Eurocopter's Brazilian subsidiary, has officially inaugurated its Itajubá final
assembly line for the production of EC725s destined for the Brazilian armed
forces.
Brazil has
50 of the type on order, to be delivered to its army, navy and air force. Four
aircraft have been delivered so far - one to each service and a fourth as a VIP
government transport - with a further three to be handed over by the end of
this year.
Although
the initial units were entirely produced at Eurocopter's main production
facility in Marignane, France, the airframer is steadily increasing the
Brazilian content of the aircraft.
Brazilian
Eurocopter EC725 Dominic Perry/Flightglobal
Two further
local suppliers were signed up on 2 October, to add to the 14 already involved
in the technology transfer programme that underpins the contract with Brazil.
A joint
venture between Atech, part of Embraer, and Cassidian Brazil will provide
mission kits for eight of the 16 aircraft destined for the navy, alongside
weapon systems. And Inbra - which is gearing up to produce composite fairings
for the EC725's tail section - was signed up to manufacture armour for 48 of
the helicopters.
Other
suppliers are also increasing their local content. Engine manufacturer
Turbomeca, whose Makila powerplants drive the EC725, has just opened an
assembly line in Rio de Janeiro to support Helibras. The first engine assembled
in Brazil underwent its initial test on 2 October and should be delivered to
Itajubá within three weeks, says François Haas, chief executive of Turbomeca
Latin America.
Helibras
also intends to produce the civil variant EC225 at Itajubá and announced its
first tentative commitment on 2 October. Lider Aviação, a Belo Horizonte-based
operator, has signed a letter of intent for up to 14 of the heavy rotorcraft,
destined to support its contract with state-owned oil giant Petrobras.
If the deal
is firmed up, deliveries will commence in 2015 at a rate of three per year.
Helibras is already in discussions with other operators in the segment with a
view to securing further deals, says François Arnaud, the company's
vice-president commercial and marketing. "The motivation is that the EC225
will be produced in Brazil. Everyone knows that will gain them points in future
tenders with Petrobras."
Dominic Perry, Flight International, 3 October 2012
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