As the China aviation industry celebrates its 60th anniversary this month, Eurocopter, in collaboration with Airbus, presents a brand new cabin interior concept specially designed for the Chinese market called Phoenix, to underline its commitment to the country's aviation development.
Designed specially to suit the tastes and aesthetic preferences of Chinese customers, a burgundy red cabin interior exuding an oriental ambience called Phoenix will be offered in the Eurocopter EC155 B1 helicopter model.
Bruno Boulnois, CEO of Eurocopter China, believes that this new offering will appeal to Chinese customers. "An EC155 B1 with a Phoenix cabin looks great both on the interior and exterior. To be able to present this concept in celebration of the Chinese aviation industry's grand 60th anniversary is truly a 'double happiness' befitting this monumental occasion."
A 5-ton twin-engine helicopter, the EC155 B1 can seat up to nine passengers in VIP and corporate configuration and is known to be the quietest in its class. The EC155 B1 is the latest addition to the proven Dauphin family, which has sold over 1,000 helicopters worldwide, with 30 percent of them in business and VIP configurations. In China, 15 units of the EC155 have been sold.
This specially designed cabin concept was developed in collaboration with Airbus, who is offering the Phoenix cabin interior in its Airbus corporate jets. The cabin has a layout that is designed to appeal to Asian tastes.
With the Asian private jet market being one of the fastest-growing in the world today, the importance of helicopters will also grow in tandem, as helicopters are a vital complement to business jets.
"The flexibility offered by helicopters in take-off and landing is an extremely attractive proposition. In today's world, where time is such a precious commodity, helicopters have proven to be the fastest and most efficient mode of transport for travels within a distance of 500 kilometers or less," said Boulnois.
Eurocopter has been a long-term partner of the Chinese aviation industry, with the sale of the first helicopter here 44 years ago, and cooperation programs for joint development and production of various helicopter models since the 1980s. A full-fledge subsidiary, Eurocopter China, was also set up in December 2006, with offices in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, and three more to be set up in Chengdu, Wuhan and Harbin in 2011. A logistics hub and a nationwide support network to provide maintenance and training services have been developed over the years, where Eurocopter China's aim is to be close to its customers and provide support and services in the most time- and cost-effective manner.
About Eurocopter
Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defense and related services. Eurocopter Group employs approximately 17,500 people. In 2010, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world's No 1 helicopter manufacturer in the civil and private market, with a turnover of 4.8 billion euros; orders for 346 new helicopters; and a 49 percent market share in the civil and private sectors. Overall, the group's products account for 33 percent of the total world civil and private helicopter fleet. Its strong worldwide presence is ensured by its 27 subsidiaries and participation on five continents, along with a dense network of distributors, certified agents and maintenance centers. There are 11,200 Eurocopter helicopters currently in service, with nearly 2,900 customers in 147 countries. Eurocopter offers the largest civil and military helicopter range in the world.
About Eurocopter China
Created in December 2006, Eurocopter China is a wholly owned subsidiary of Eurocopter Group, responsible for sales and customer support activities for the company's entire range of products. In China, Eurocopter China covers a market share of 40 percent. With over 40 years of presence and 30 years of experience in industrial cooperation in China, more than 160 Eurocopter helicopters have been sold in the country. In order to provide quality service in proximity to Chinese operators, Eurocopter China established multiple bases in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, staffed with about 45 employees.
