Milestone Aviation Group Signs for 16 Eurocopter EC225

Milestone Aviation Group and Eurocopter today announced an order for 16 EC225 aircraft. These aircraft are valued at EUR 362 million (US $480 million) and will be delivered over five years, starting in 2013. Eurocopter’s embrace of a partnership with Milestone on the EC225 is a major development for the helicopter industry. Since launching in August 2010, Milestone has provided over US $500 million in finance to high quality operators around the world including Bristow, CHC and Inaer. Now Milestone can deliver increased value to its customers through timely delivery slots for EC225 aircraft allowing its partners to bid on tenders. Richard Santulli, Chairman of Milestone Aviation Group, said, “This historic order enables Milestone to provide our customers with the best aircraft and product options available. The EC225 has a great pedigree and a reputation for providing leadership in safety and high reliability in demanding operating conditions.” He continued, “I leased all of the original Super Pumas, the EC225’s predecessor, delivered in North America in the 1980’s with my old company RTS Helicopters, so this deal signals the resumption of a very important partnership.” “The EC225 is a remarkable aircraft and we are excited to be able to offer it to a broader audience of potential operators through our partnership with Milestone,” said Lutz Bertling, Eurocopter’s President and CEO. “By removing the capital hurdle associated with ownership we are hopeful that we can introduce the EC225 to more operators around the world.” Eurocopter’s EC225 offers superior speed, range, payload, optimal safety and reliability. Deployed worldwide for civil and military search and rescue, as well as off-shore and passenger transport missions, it is the latest-generation member of the Super Puma/Cougar family, which has logged more than four million flight hours in operations around the globe.