Eurocopter Japan opens new facility
Eurocopter has opened a new
facility at Kobe Airport,
at a ceremony hosted by Stephane Ginoux, president and chief executive of
Eurocopter Japan.
The ceremony was held in the presence of the Governor of Hyogo Prefecture,
Toshizo Ido and Mayor of Kobe City, Tatsuo Yada; who were joined by
Eurocopter’s senior executive vice president for Asia-Pacific, Norbert Ducrot
and executive vice president for support and services, Derek Sharples.
The opening of the new Kobe facility highlights a relationship of 50 years with Japan, going
back to the Alouette II helicopter.
“Eurocopter is grateful for
the great support that has been shown to us by the government and authorities,
as well as our customers and partners in Japan,” said Norbert Ducrot,
Eurocopter’s senior executive vice president for Asia-Pacific. “We are present
in many countries and are helping to develop the helicopter industries in Asia. Japan’s
vibrant helicopter market is certainly a shining example for others to follow.”
The new Kobe
hangar can accommodate up to 25 mid-sized rotary-wing aircraft as compared to
15 helicopters in its previous location in Osaka, thus significantly increasing its MRO
capabilities.
Eurocopter Japan will also
focus on research and development (R&D), an area that the Japanese
government is keen on investing and developing. “We have the honor of being the
first foreign aeronautic company to be granted a government subsidy to boost
our R&D activities,” stated Stephane Ginoux, president and chief executive
of Eurocopter Japan.
He continued “With the great
talent pool of local and international expertise in Japan, we will strive to develop
cutting edge technologies that will better cater to the needs of customers, at
the same time making helicopter operations safer, more cost-efficient and
mission-capable.”
Ginoux added, “Through the
global network of our parent company, EADS, it is our aim to bring Japanese
high-technology to the world and contribute to the sustainable growth of the
Japanese aeronautic industry.”
The new Kobe
location will also have training facilities, including the first helicopter
full-flight simulator in Japan
and other training devices. Dedicated to the EC135 model, the full-flight
simulator is slated to begin operations in 2014.
Besides the training
equipment and tools, a Eurocopter-certified Japanese trainer will also be on
hand to conduct world standard training in the native language – an extremely
important aspect that is much appreciated by Japanese pilots.
