On Tuesday, February 25th Precision Helicopters is taking delivery of their first new-generation training helicopter, the Guimbal Cabri G2, which is the first of this type in the USA, at the HAI Heli-Expo in Anaheim, CA.

Precision’s Managing Director David Rath is signing the delivery with Bruno Guimbal, President and CEO of the manufacturer Guimbal. The much-anticipated helicopter is displayed on Precison’s booth 7311.

“Operating a large range of helicopters including Hughes/Schweizer/Sikorsky 300C & CBi since 1983, Precision was facing a challenge to replace these aging machines with more modern ones offering an even greater level of safety,” says the fim’s founder Nancy Sturdevant, who started the company with her late husband Dennis in 1983.

Rath was introduced to the Cabri G2 by Pacific Aircraft director Terry Murdoch, New Zealand, who had recently introduced the new helicopter in the country with great success.

The Cabri G2 was developed and certified Part 27 in Europe and entered service in 2009 in EASA countries, followed by Australia and New-Zealand. It features state-of-the-art technology for rotors and cockpit, including digital vehicle system and crashworthiness. These attributes, combined with its flight characteristics, has attracted a number of professional schools including the Polish Air Academy, the Lithuanian Air University, and National Vietnam Helicopters, among 32 other operators worldwide.

The type certificate validation procedure was started with the FAA in September of 2013 shortly after the partnership with Precision. The Validated Type Certificate is expected this spring from the FAA, thus facilitating the Cabri’s availability to a rapidly growing number of interested U.S. operators.

“Relying on a very professional and safety-oriented partner like Precision makes us very confident in our success in the USA. The Cabri has the potential to become the trainer of choice for every professional organization. It has proven itself a workhorse wherever it is flown,” according to manufacturer owner and founder Bruno Guimbal.

Precision has already trained mechanics and instructor staff at the manufacturer facility in the south of France, and will work as a distributor for the machine. Their first Cabri G2 is equipped for Night-VFR and with the manufacturer-developped cargo hook. A second helicopter is being prepared for delivery in June of 2014, with more to follow in 2015.

[Editor note – Guimbal have told us that they “signed a good number of orders from USA, but also New-Zealand, South Africa and Brazil.” at Heli-Expo 2014]

About Precision Aircraft Training LLC
Precision Aviation Training LLC, located in Newberg, Oregon and its affiliates started providing aviation services in 1983. Since this time the company has become a respected aviation training, maintenance, and operations company. Precision provides an array of services to both the private and public sectors. Precision holds Part 133, 137, 135, 141 and 145 certificates and in 2013 combined it’s management personnels’ operational experiences, to launch their Unammaned Unmanned Division.
www.flyprecision.com

About Helicopteres Guimbal
Founded end of 2000, the company developped the innovative two seat Cabri G2. Its certification was granted by the EASA in December, 2007 followed in 2008 by the Part 21 certification of the manufacturer. Helicopteres Guimbal produced so far 64 helicopters sold in 18 countries, from Sweden to New-Zealand, and the fleet counts more than 30.000 flight hours, with the older helicopters approaching 3000 flight hours Situated in Aix en Provence, France, the company counts 50 employees, quickly growing, and has realized in 2013 about 6M euros in sales, a growth of more than 40% over 2012. www.guimbal.com