EC120 Reaches 10,000 Flight Hour Milestone

Baltimore Police Department's EC120 is First to Mark this Achievement

(Grand Prairie, TX., July 2, 2010) -- American Eurocopter announced today that an EC120 helicopter operated by the Baltimore Police Department has become the first EC120 in the world to reach 10,000 flight hours. The Baltimore Police Department's fleet consists of four EC120s, which they have been operating since 2000.

"The EC120 has been a great aircraft for us," said Sgt. Andre Monroe, Flight Operations Sergeant for the Baltimore Police Department. "We typically fly around 350 hours a month in support of our officers on the ground and in conjunction with assisting other area agencies such as fire and EMS. The EC120 is extremely versatile, which has contributed greatly to our ability to perform airborne law enforcement."

"Our entire company congratulates the Baltimore Police Department on this significant milestone," said Marc Paganini, American Eurocopter President and CEO. "Their high utilization of the EC120 demonstrates the reliability and performance capabilities that this helicopter is known for. The EC120's characteristics, together with the Baltimore Police Department's excellent maintenance procedures, have contributed to this outstanding achievement."

The EC120 is powered by a fuel-efficient Turbomeca ARRIUS 2F engine and is known for its high maneuverability, state-of-the-art ergonomic cockpit, and low noise signature. The wide unobstructed cabin, along with its excellent visibility, makes the EC120 an ideal platform for law enforcement operations.

"We selected the EC120 for a number of reasons," added Monroe. "Two of the most significant were the superior visibility, which is perfect for law enforcement missions, and the low direct operating cost. The latter has really enabled us to fly as many hours as we do. We have flown over 30,000 hours on the entire fleet since our EC120s have entered service."

Source : Eurocopter, an EADS N.V. company (Paris: EAD.PA) - click here for more information