Eurocopter fared well this year at the 2011 Paris Air Show, bringing in several orders and agreements throughout the week.

Announcements included orders for three EC135s for the French Gendarmerie Police; three EC135s for the Malaysian operator Aerotree for training purposes; an AS350 B2 for the Brazilian transportation operator Helimarte Táxi Aéreo; four AS350 B3s for Air Methods Corporation for air medical transportation; four EC175s for the French offshore operator Héli-Union and one EC225 for the Norwegian offshore operator Blueway.

In addition, Eurocopter signed a contract to upgrade 12 German Armed Forces NH90 tactical transport helicopters (TTH) for intensive-care medical transport in forward air evacuation operations, and a supplementary contract with the Malaysian Ministry of Defence related to the 12 EC725s they ordered last year.

A major highlight of the seven-day show was the first-ever public performance of the hybrid helicopter-plane concept X3, which created quite the buzz at the show due to its unique concept, fast speeds and glamorous looks. The EC175 also proved to be a real entertainer with its stunning daily acrobatic shows, raising many a goose bump among aircraft enthusiasts.

Eurocopter signed with the Malaysian Ministry of Defence a cooperation contract to deliver 12 EC725 helicopters, to be operated by the Royal Malaysian Air Force in search and rescue (SAR) and utility missions.

The contract includes 13 comprehensive cooperation projects to be developed with the objective of strengthening Malaysian strategic aeronautical skills and capabilities together with specific attention in education through the development of aeronautical training capabilities in association with Malaysian universities.

“This contract opens a new chapter in Eurocopter’s relationship with Malaysia and will bring high-value technology and know-how to the country in line with the Malaysian Government Vision 2020,” said Dominique Maudet, Eurocopter Executive Vice President Global Business & Services.