Eurocopter ready for 2012 Olympics

Eurocopter’s new maintenance mission control centre at Oxford Airport and operated by Eurocopter UK, the facility usually manages more than 2,000 maintenance events per year at Eurocopter bases in Oxford and Hawarden/Wales, as well as on customer operating locations in the UK and Ireland.
The centre is now on standby to assist the security services during the Olympic
Games in London.

“Maximising our service capabilities to provide customers with the best aircraft availability is a total commitment of Eurocopter, and we back this engagement with investments in new facilities, IT systems, mobile support units and our staff – meeting even the most demanding circumstances, such as the Olympic games,” said Markus Steinke, managing director of Eurocopter UK. “Our maintenance mission control centre at Oxford is part of the strategy to develop state-of-the-art, around-the-clock, efficient services – all provided locally, be it to individual helicopter owners or large fleet operators.”

During the Olympic Games, an estimated 7,000 flight hours of police and security air units will be supported by the centre.

“A total of 30 Eurocopter-built aircraft – including EC135s, EC145s and Puma MK1s – constitute the helicopter backbone for the Olympic Games’ security, operated by the London Metropolitan Police, the adjoining cities’ police forces, the British Special Forces and the Royal Air Force,” added Steinke. “We are ready to support all involved in these vital duties.”