American Eurocopter
Encyclopedia
American Eurocopter is a subsidiary
of EADS North America, the United States subsidiary of EADS. American Eurocopter manufactures and markets a broad range of civil
helicopter
s, and as of 2005 had almost a 50% share of the American market. It has its headquarters in Grand Prairie, Texas
.
In 1968, Vought Helicopter Inc. (VHI), a subsidiary of LTV, built a facility at the Grand Prairie Municipal Airport
in Grand Prairie, Texas
for the purpose of marketing helicopters to North America built by Aérospatiale
, the French helicopter manufacturer. However, six years later Aérospatiale bought out VHI and took over its own marketing; two years later it changed VHI's name to Aérospatiale Helicopter Corporation (AHC). In 1980 AHC built its current Grand Prairie facility.
In 1992, Deutsche Aerospace (Germany) and Aérospatiale merged to form Eurocopter; AHC would become American Eurocopter.
In 2004, the facility in Columbus, Mississippi was opened and in 2006, became the manufacturing facility and home for the U.S. Army's newest helicopter, the UH-72A
Lakota.
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
of EADS North America, the United States subsidiary of EADS. American Eurocopter manufactures and markets a broad range of civil
Civil aviation
Civil aviation is one of two major categories of flying, representing all non-military aviation, both private and commercial. Most of the countries in the world are members of the International Civil Aviation Organization and work together to establish common standards and recommended practices...
helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s, and as of 2005 had almost a 50% share of the American market. It has its headquarters in Grand Prairie, Texas
Grand Prairie, Texas
Grand Prairie is a city in Dallas, Ellis, and Tarrant counties in the U.S. state of Texas and is a part of the Mid-Cities region in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Grand Prairie is a suburb of both Dallas and Fort Worth and had a population of 175,396 at the 2010 census.- History :The city of...
.
History
The company's history goes back to the days of the now-defunct LTV Corporation.In 1968, Vought Helicopter Inc. (VHI), a subsidiary of LTV, built a facility at the Grand Prairie Municipal Airport
Grand Prairie Municipal Airport
Grand Prairie Municipal Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located four miles southwest of the central business district of Grand Prairie, a city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States.Although most U.S...
in Grand Prairie, Texas
Grand Prairie, Texas
Grand Prairie is a city in Dallas, Ellis, and Tarrant counties in the U.S. state of Texas and is a part of the Mid-Cities region in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Grand Prairie is a suburb of both Dallas and Fort Worth and had a population of 175,396 at the 2010 census.- History :The city of...
for the purpose of marketing helicopters to North America built by Aérospatiale
Aérospatiale
Aérospatiale was a French aerospace manufacturer that built both civilian and military aircraft, rockets and satellites. It was originally known as Société Nationale Industrielle Aérospatiale...
, the French helicopter manufacturer. However, six years later Aérospatiale bought out VHI and took over its own marketing; two years later it changed VHI's name to Aérospatiale Helicopter Corporation (AHC). In 1980 AHC built its current Grand Prairie facility.
In 1992, Deutsche Aerospace (Germany) and Aérospatiale merged to form Eurocopter; AHC would become American Eurocopter.
In 2004, the facility in Columbus, Mississippi was opened and in 2006, became the manufacturing facility and home for the U.S. Army's newest helicopter, the UH-72A
UH-72A
The UH-72 Lakota is a twin-engine helicopter with a single, four-bladed main rotor. The UH-72 is a militarized version of the Eurocopter EC145 and is built by American Eurocopter division of EADS North America. Initially marketed as the UH-145, the helicopter was selected as the winner of the...
Lakota.
US production plants
American Eurocopter produces helicopters at two production plants in the US.- Grand Prairie, TexasGrand Prairie, TexasGrand Prairie is a city in Dallas, Ellis, and Tarrant counties in the U.S. state of Texas and is a part of the Mid-Cities region in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Grand Prairie is a suburb of both Dallas and Fort Worth and had a population of 175,396 at the 2010 census.- History :The city of...
- Grand Prairie serves as the headquarters and main facility for American Eurocopter. It is adjacent to Grand Prairie Municipal AirportGrand Prairie Municipal AirportGrand Prairie Municipal Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located four miles southwest of the central business district of Grand Prairie, a city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States.Although most U.S...
. - Grand Prairie also serves as the Eurocopter Training facility for North America with state-of-the-art classrooms and the latest technology, full motion simulators.
- Grand Prairie serves as the headquarters and main facility for American Eurocopter. It is adjacent to Grand Prairie Municipal Airport
- Columbus, MississippiColumbus, MississippiColumbus is a city in Lowndes County, Mississippi, United States that lies above the Tombigbee River. It is approximately northeast of Jackson, north of Meridian, south of Tupelo, northwest of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and west of Birmingham, Alabama. The population was 25,944 at the 2000 census...
- The recently constructed Columbus plant handles the production certificate and final assembly work for the AS350 A-Star, as well repairs, upgrades and customizations of other American Eurocopter models. It is located on the Golden Triangle Regional AirportGolden Triangle Regional AirportGolden Triangle Regional Airport is a public airport midway between the towns of Columbus, Starkville, and West Point, Mississippi, and serving the area known as the Golden Triangle and the surrounding region of Mississippi...
. - The Columbus facility is also the home of the UH-72A Lakota (military EC145), the new Army helicopter.
- The recently constructed Columbus plant handles the production certificate and final assembly work for the AS350 A-Star, as well repairs, upgrades and customizations of other American Eurocopter models. It is located on the Golden Triangle Regional Airport