As the anchor tenant of the new Helicopter Center, Eurocopter Malaysia (ECM) will begin operations at the new location from April 2012, with installation of an EC225/EC725 Full Flight Simulator (FFS) also targeted for mid next year. The Helicopter Center will be developed at the Malaysian International Aerospace Center and will be home to all rotary wing operations and activities such as Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) for helicopters, hangarage and parking, as well as training services.
“The Helicopter Center will double ECM’s capacity which will allow us to accommodate our next phase of growth, especially in the development of the completion/customization lines, MRO activities as well as the scheduled deliveries of more than 20 EC225/EC725 helicopters to Malaysia in the next three years,” said ECM President & CEO Pierre Nardelli. The EC225 and EC725 are both long-range tactical transport helicopters.
The Center will also accommodate a new joint venture set up by ECM and Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation (BHIC) for MRO services, and several other operators. Designed to address an array of helicopter needs, an EC225/EC725 FFS will be built in mid 2012 to provide training services to pilots in the Asia Pacific and Australasia region.
Construction of the Center will begin in July 2011, and is expected to be completed by April 2012.