Eurocopter Canada (ECL) will continue to support the British Columbia Institute of Technology’s (BCIT) AME program and AME Type Course with a recent delivery of one Eurocopter AS350 training aid aircraft.

A Memorandum of Understanding between ECL and BCIT was officially signed in September 2009 at BCIT’s Aerospace Technology Campus in Richmond – the facility where instructors and students have been given the opportunity to take part in Eurocopter’s intensive training program in airframe and engine maintenance. The Eurocopter and Transport Canada-approved courses will leverage Eurocopter’s recognized technology to teach the next generation of aerospace technicians.

“With the continued support of Eurocopter Canada, including the recent delivery of the AS350, we are able to offer our students the best resources and training for future careers in the aerospace industry,” said British Colombia Institute of Technology (BCIT) President Don Wright. “Partnering with the leading helicopter manufacturer in Canada allows us to strengthen and enhance our program to benefit both our current and prospective students.”

With over 40% of Canada’s helicopters located in British Columbia, the agreement has enhanced BCIT’s specialized training by allowing students to practice maintenance tasks on the AS350 helicopter. Eurocopter provides training opportunities for BCIT instructors as well as provides course materials to BCIT’s instructors.

“At Eurocopter, we strive to engage future experts in our field by teaching best practices gained from our many years of experience in flight safety,” said Guy Joannes,
President & CEO, ECL. “The AS350 is an ideal training tool to help strengthen the BCIT course curriculum and expand the growing interest in our industry amongst the students and throughout British Columbia.”

Eurocopter’s AS350 is the most commonly used aircraft for ECL training and is the most popular aircraft for utility missions in Canada. Particularly in Western Canada, the AS350 makes up for 60% of ECL’s fleet.

About ECL & Eurocopter Group
Eurocopter Canada Limited (www.eurocopter.ca) is a subsidiary of Eurocopter. Eurocopter Canada based in Fort Erie, Ontario, with operations in Richmond, British Columbia and Montreal, Quebec – 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, defense and related services. The Eurocopter Group employs approximately 17,500 people. In 2010, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s number one helicopter manufacturer in the civil and parapublic market with a turnover of 4.8 billion Euros, orders for 346 new helicopters and a 49 percent market share in the civil and parapublic sectors. Overall, the Group’s helicopters account for 33 percent of the total worldwide civil and parapublic fleet. Eurocopter’s strong worldwide presence is ensured by its 30 subsidiaries and participations on five continents, along with a dense network of distributors, certified agents and maintenance centers. There are currently 11,200 Eurocopter helicopters in service and some 2,900 customers in 147 countries. Eurocopter offers the largest civil and military helicopter range in the world.

About BCIT
The British Columbia Institute of Technology has produced more than 120,000 career-ready graduates since 1964. With a mission to build pathways for career success in the global marketplace through teaching excellence and applied education and research, BCIT is the largest public post-secondary institute in the province, with 48,000 students enrolled annually. BCIT offers more than 400 full-time, part-time and distance education programs that lead to a comprehensive range of credentials up to and including master’s degrees. BCIT’s career-oriented programs in business and media, computing and information technology, engineering, applied and natural sciences, health sciences, and trades, vocational and apprenticeship are developed in consultation with industry advisory committees, making BCIT integral to the economic, social and environmental prosperity of British Columbia.