An agreement was signed with R&R Aviation on the last day of the Singapore Airshow for two brand new Eurocopter EC130 B4, marking Eurocopter’s breakthrough into the Bangladeshi market with its first new civil helicopter sale. This achievement capped Eurocopter’s successful outing at the Airshow this year, where it also inked deals for four new helicopters with other customers in the Asia region.

The two EC130 B4 helicopters will be R&R’s first purchase of Eurocopter aircraft; this deal also marks a momentous breakthrough for Eurocopter in the Bangladesh civil helicopter market. To be delivered in September this year and first half of 2013 respectively, the two rotary-wing aircraft will be used primarily for emergency medical services, and can be re-configured for corporate passenger transport when the need arises.

The EC130 B4 has an exceptional cabin size which can accommodate 1 stretcher and 2 medical attendants. The wide unobstructed cabin with large doors allows easy loading and unloading of patients and rapid access for medical personnel. The extremely low internal noise level and the flat cabin floor also offer a suitable environment to install fragile and bulky medical equipment. In corporate transport configuration, it can seat up to seven passengers, offering a panoramic view for all at optimum comfort.

“The Eurocopter light and medium range of helicopters are very popular as they are optimally designed for use in emergency medical services,” said Bernhard Brenner, CEO of Eurocopter South East Asia. “We are delighted to have R&R as our first civil helicopter customer in Bangladesh, and it is even more gratifying that our aircraft will be deployed for humanitarian support. We are committed to provide R&R with our utmost service to ensure success in their missions.”

Eurocopter signed deals for a total of six new helicopters at the Singapore Airshow 2012. The six aircraft ranged from the lightest EC120 to the heaviest EC225, to fulfill various types of missions. Added Brenner, “The variety of helicopter types acquired by our customers in Asia reflects the non-homogeneity of this region. Thanks to Eurocopter’s wide-ranging fleet, we are able to offer products that meet the differing needs of our customers.”

Vietnam Helicopter Corporation will use the EC120 as the training aircraft for its newly-created VNH Training Centre; R&R took two EC130 B4 for emergency medical services; Stockwell Investing signed for two units of EC145 T2 for utility missions in Indonesia; and Southern Vietnam Helicopter Corporation invested in its fourth EC225 for offshore operations.

Hosting the ceremony is Dr. Bernhard Brenner, Eurocopter South East Asia President, second from left.  Eurocopter did not supply the names of the others in the photo, but evidently third from left is the signatory from R&R Aviation