Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated (NASDAQ: EAC) (“Erickson” or “the Company”), a leading global provider of aviation services to a diverse mix of commercial and government customers, and the vertically-integrated manufacturer and operator of the powerful heavy-lift Erickson S-64 Aircrane helicopter, announced today that it has been awarded a contract renewal with the Department of Transportation, providing aerial passenger and cargo transport in Alaska for the Essential Air Service program.

The award was made to Evergreen Helicopters (“EHI”), a recently acquired and now wholly owned subsidiary of Erickson, and will continue EHI’s two-year support of a crucial route connecting the Island of Little Diomede – a native village in the Arctic Circle near the International Date Line, less than three miles from the Russian Island of Big Diomede – and Nome, best known for hosting the finish line of the famous Iditarod sled race.

Udo Rieder, Chief Executive Officer of Erickson, commented, “Evergreen Helicopters has been delivering mail in Alaska on a United States Postal Service contract for twenty years, and involved with the Essential Air Service program for the last year. We are proud to continue this vital service, which keeps passengers, groceries, mail, supplies and more moving between Little Diomede and the mainland. Erickson’s ongoing involvement with the Essential Air Service program is yet another example of the broad reach, diversity, and global utilization of our aerial services.”

The Essential Air Service program sets aside federal funding to subsidize air service to remote locations with no other means of transportation. Particularly when unpredictable ice conditions make traveling by boat or fixed wing aircraft impossible, an Essential Air Service helicopter provides the only way on or off the island.

[HeliHub.com editor note – this is operated by a Eurocopter Bo105.  See here for interesting profile of this operation]

About Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated

Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated is a leading global provider of aviation services to a diverse mix of commercial and government customers. The Company currently operates a diverse fleet of 85 rotary-wing and fixed wing aircraft, including a fleet of 20 heavy-lift S-64 Aircranes. This fleet supports a wide and worldwide variety of government and commercial customers, across a broad range of aerial services, including critical supply and logistics for deployed military forces, humanitarian relief, firefighting, timber harvesting, infrastructure construction, and crewing. The Company also maintains a vertical manufacturing capability for the S-64 Aircrane, related components, and other aftermarket support and maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for the Aircrane and other aircraft.

Founded in 1971, Erickson Air-Crane is headquartered in Portland, Oregon and maintains facilities and operations in North America, South America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. For more information, please visit www.ericksonaircrane.com.