American Eurocopter announced today that Papillon Helicopters, Inc. has ordered another EC130 B4 to its aerial tour operations in the Grand Canyon and the surrounding area. This is the fourteenth EC130 B4 in the company’s fleet.
“Papillon is a valued customer and their continued selection of the EC130 affirms the aircraft as a proven platform for aerial tour operations in the United States and worldwide,” said Marc Paganini, President and CEO of American Eurocopter.
“Our focus is on customer satisfaction, comfort and safety,” said Lon Halvorson, EVP of Papillon Helicopters, Inc. “The B4 is renowned for its spacious cabin, excellent visibility, reliability and performance, and it is the right choice for our fleet.”
The EC130B4 is equipped with a Turbomeca ARRIEL 2B1 turbine engine. It comes with a dual channel digital engine control system (FADEC) and has a fast cruise speed of 130 knots, and a range of 329 nm with no reserves. Its Fenestron® tail rotor and automatic control of rotor RPM results in a significantly reduced operating noise level, which makes it the platform of choice for the aerial tour industry.
Since 1965 Papillon Helicopters has been the world’s oldest and largest sightseeing company flying an estimated 600,000 passengers a year on its daily tours to the Grand Canyon. Papillon is certified to fly both the South and West Rims of this great American landmark, and has three landing sites on the Grand Canyon’s floor.
About American Eurocopter
American Eurocopter is a helicopter manufacturer that produces, markets, sells and supports the broadest range of civil and para-public helicopters offered by any manufacturer in the United States. The company is a subsidiary of EADS North America Holdings, the North American operations of EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services, and is an affiliate of Eurocopter, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world. American Eurocopter’s product line represents the most cost-effective, technologically-advanced helicopters, ranging from light single to heavy twin, serving all markets and missions. Company headquarters and main facilities are located in Grand Prairie, TX, with a large manufacturing and production facility in Columbus, MS, that produces the UH-72A for the U.S. Army’s Light Utility Helicopter program.