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China’s COHC chooses Eurocopter EC225 LP helicopters
January 3, 2012 By Carey Fredericks
Jan. 3, 2012, Beijing, China - Eurocopter has been awarded a contract by China's CITIC Offshore Helicopter (COHC) to supply seven EC225 LP long-range helicopters that will allow the company to carry out its airlift duties for the offshore oil and gas industry.
The long-range EC225 LP belongs to the heavy-lift Super Puma helicopter family and is the only rotary-wing aircraft capable of performing long-distance flights at maximum take-off weight and full payload.
The 11-ton helicopter is equipped with a pair of Turbomeca Makila 2A engines and features an aerodynamic, efficient five-blade main rotor with new airfoil shapes that is incorporated in the twin-engine of the helicopter to reduce vibration levels.
The bladed rotor provides the aircraft with increased power, payload, faster cruise speed and maximum flight endurance of up to five hours.
Additional features include an improved main rotor gearbox, a dual-channel, full authority digital engine control (FADEC), and a full glass cockpit with active matrix liquid crystal displays.
Both the companies have also agreed to develop joint training services, set up a maintenance facility serving China, a helicopter training centre with flight simulators, and an overhaul facility for dynamic components such as main gearboxes.
Eurocopter's senior vice-president for Asia Norbert Ducrot said that the new training and maintenance capabilities will ensure flight safety in the Chinese and Asian markets.
Delivery of the seven EC225 LP Super Pumas will take place between December 2012 and December 2015.
Currently, the COHC large-helicopter fleet includes Eurocopter AS332 L1 Super Pumas, EC155 B and B1s, and AS365 Dauphins.
