As part of the MOU, Eurocopter will provide ENA with Eurocopter and Transport Canada approved aviation instructors to give courses on the Eurocopter AS350 series and EC120 B helicopters, which are widely used in Quebec.

ENA is the leading educational institution in Quebec preparing new aircraft maintenance engineers (AME) for careers in the aerospace industry at large.

“We are very pleased to partner with ENA on this new training initiative. Through this agreement with ENA we have the opportunity to share our expertise as one of the world’s leading helicopter manufacturers and innovators, in the hopes of increasing flight safety and encouraging young people to become part of this dynamic industry” said Mr. Guy Joannes, the President and CEO of Eurocopter Canada Limited.

“Advances in helicopter technology require parallel advances in technical training to fully utilize the unique flying capabilities of advanced technology helicopters and to operate them safely,” he added.

ENA utilizes the Eurocopter aircraft to train helicopter maintenance technicians. The Eurocopter courses are Transport Canada approved and will assist ENA to teach the next generation of aerospace technicians on Eurocopter’s leading-edge technology. The MOU will see aircraft maintenance engineers seeking Transport Canada approved factory training on Eurocopter helicopter models take their courses at ENA’s large aviation campus at St. Hubert Airport, east of Montreal.

Mr. Serge Brasset, President of College Edouard-Montpetit and Director of the Ecole nationale d’aerotechnique very pleased with this Memorendum of Understanding, declared the following: “ENA is extremely happy about this partnership with Eurocopter Canada which gives the opportunity to Montreal’s aerospace industry, to the teachers as well as to ENA’s students to gain access to highly specialised education. ENA thus becomes the only formation centre, in the greater Montreal region, acknowledged by the industry for its on type courses AS350 series and EC120 B”.

Canada is home for the World’s second largest fleet of civilian helicopters, and Quebec is a large market for Eurocopter helicopter models which are widely used by corporate customers and operators to support the hydro-electric, forestry, mining industries, fight forest fires and monitor the environment. Eurocopter is fully committed to safety, providing proximity training for its helicopter operators and future AME’s to further support this commitment.
About Ecole nationale d’aerotechnique

The Ecole nationale d’aerotechnique (ENA) affiliated with College Edouard-Montpetit is the largest college-level aeronautical institute in North America. ENA, having a 12 MCAD annual budget, possesses 5 hangars hosting 29 aircrafts (19 fixed wing aircrafts and 10 helicopters) along with theoretical classes and 35 shops and laboratory facilities, representing a 75 MCAD long term investment in infra structures and equipment.

ENA offers highly specialized technical programs in aeronautical construction, aircraft maintenance and avionics. The training combines both theoretical and practical aspects and the students have the opportunity to take part in a Work – Study Program enabling them to carry out paid internships. A large number of programs are also offered to continuing education

With a total of 215 employees of which 120 are teachers, ENA opens its doors to 1,000 full-time regular students and 6,000 continuing education students.

About ECL and Eurocopter Group

Eurocopter Canada Limited (www.eurocopter.ca) is a subsidiary of Eurocopter. Eurocopter Canada – based in Fort Erie, Ontario – has a customer support network that spans the entire country. Eurocopter Canada celebrated 2009 as its 25th anniversary year. 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. 15,600 people. In 2009, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s No. 1 helicopter manufacturer in the civil and parapublic market, with a turnover of 4.6 billion Euros, orders for 344 new helicopters, and a 52 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 18 subsidiaries on five continents, along with a dense network of distributors, certified agents and maintenance centres. More than 10,500 Eurocopter helicopters are currently in service with over 2,800 customers in more than 140 countries. Eurocopter offers the largest civil and military helicopter range in the world.

Photo – From left to right: Mr. Guy Joannes, President and CEO, Eurocopter Canada Limited, Mr. Serge Brasset, General Director, College Edouard-Montpetit and Mr. Serge Rioux, Assistant Director, ENA.