Romania and Airbus Helicopters Sept. 3 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at government headquarters, paving the way for the company to expand and further develop production capabilities for the Super Puma MK1 at Brasov Aerospace Technological Park.
“The trust placed by Romania in Airbus Helicopters is more than reciprocated, and I hope that the investments we have made, and will continue to make, in Romania do demonstrate this to you today,” said Airbus Helicopters President, Guillaume Faury.
The ceremony underscored the commitment Romania and Airbus Helicopters to build on their shared history of success and to confirm the company’s presence in the country for future decades.
With over 300 Pumas and Alouettes helicopters (IAR330 and IAR316) produced under license in the 1970s for national and export markets, Airbus Helicopters has enjoyed a longstanding partnership with Romania. T
The helicopter manufacturer’s presence in Brasov dates to 2002 through Eurocopter Romania, a joint-venture with the state-owned company Industria Aeronautică Română (now IAR S.A. Brasov).
Over 170 highly skilled employees perform major inspections and repairs of Pumas and Super Pumas, as well as work on maintenance export contracts.
In 2012, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense took possession of its first upgraded Puma Mk1 as part of the Puma Life Extension Program (LEP) contract awarded to Eurocopter UK in 2009 which upgrades Mk1 helicopters to Mk2.
The three-year support contract affects a fleet of 24 Royal Air Force Puma Mk1 helicopters being upgraded at Brasov to extend their life, and enhance performance, mission capability and operational safety.
In addition, Airbus Helicopters aircraft perform missions for several Romanian State institutions, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Interior, and the Intelligence Service Agency (SRI).
Eurocopter Romania’s strides in developing cost-effective solutions to maintain and retrofit the workhorse Puma helicopter have been driven by the excellence of its workforce, and have earned global recognition for the Romanian facility, with achievements that have made the Brasov customer center a reference and success story in the production and overhaul of Pumas, the company said. With the MoU, Airbus Helicopters hopes to benefit from this industrial capacity in its evaluation of development options for its family of twin-engine medium helicopters.