The Mexican MoD orders 6 EC725 helicopters from Eurocopter

The Mexican Ministry of Defense has signed an agreement with Eurocopter for the purchase of six EC725 helicopters. Together with the same number of rotary-wing aircraft ordered in March of last year, Eurocopter will now be supplying a total of 12 EC725s to Mexico's SEDENA (Secretaría de La Defensa Nacional) beginning in the second quarter of 2011 for use in transport and civil security missions.

The signature ceremony, held this week in Mexico City, was attended by Guillermo Galván Galván, the Secretary of National Defense; the Commander of the Mexican Air Force, Division General Leonardo González García; the Director General of Administration, Brigadier General Augusto Moisés Garcia Ochoa, who represented the Ministry of Defense; Ernesto Cordero Arroyo, the Secretary of Finance and Public Credit; and Joseph Saporito, Eurocopter's Executive Vice President - Commercial Helicopters.

This contract represents a further consolidation of Eurocopter's presence in Mexico, which is managed by its Eurocopter de Mexico S.A. de C.V. subsidiary. A majority of the country's government departments have been operating Eurocopter helicopters for decades, which are utilized in supporting the airlift and transportation needs of the Mexican President, the Navy Secretariat, the Ministry of Defense and other users.

"Such an important follow-on order underscores the confidence that Mexico's government has placed in Eurocopter, which builds on our subsidiary's 28 years of experience and investment in the country," said Saporito.

Eurocopter de México is based at Mexico City International Airport, providing maintenance services for helicopters located in the region. Eurocopter rotary-wing aircraft have been operating in the country since 1964, with over 350 of the company's helicopters currently in service in this region - representing a market share of more than 50 percent.
Staffed by nearly 200 employees, Eurocopter de México offers aircraft assembly, maintenance and painting services at its Mexico City International Airport facilities. It also provides professional training for helicopter pilots and technicians through partnership agreements with educational institutions such as the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN), Mexico's National Technical Professional School (CONALEP), the country's Pilot Training Academy and Heliescuela. In addition to its Mexican market responsibilities, Eurocopter de México also covers Central America, northern South America and the Caribbean.

The EC725 is the latest member of Eurocopter's Cougar family. This 11-ton class medium-lift, twin-engine helicopter is equipped with five main rotor blades. With its impressive fuel capacity, the EC725 offers a flight endurance of 5.30 hours. It can carry up to 29 passengers in addition to the flight crew, and was designed to perform a wide range of missions - including search and rescue, personnel transport, the airlift of medical supplies and food, and logistics support. Its multi-purpose capabilities make it the ideal choice to meet the needs of the Mexican Ministry of Defense.

Source: Eurocopter

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