> Maintenance agreement with HSI

> US Coast Guard's trusted partner

> First italian EC145

> 20 EC635/EC135s for Switzerland

> Japan: the emperor's EC225
The Emperor’s EC225

Japan - On 29 March, Eurocopter - via EuroHeli* - handed over the first EC225 in VIP version to the Japan Defense Agency (JDA).


© Eurocopter

The first EC225 delivered to the JDA will be used to transport the Japanese Emperor, members of the government, and foreign heads of state, notably during the G8 summit in Japan in 2008. In exceptional circumstances, this aircraft could also be assigned to transport people - in response to a major catastrophe, for example. Japan ordered this EC225 to take over from the three AS332 L Super Pumas the country acquired 20 years ago. On 10 March 2006, two additional aircraft were ordered by the JDA and these aircraft, which will be delivered in March 2007, will perform the same missions as the first.

The Japanese company Jamco will customize the aircraft, adapting them to the local military regulations. Jamco (see inset) is a Eurocopterapproved maintenance center – particularly for the EC225 (see Rotor Journal No. 66) – and the first EC225 should roll out of the company’s workshops at the end of this summer. This is the first time that Eurocopter – via its distributor – has signed a contract directly with the JDA. The Japanese Coast Guards have also placed an order for two EC225s, which will be delivered at the start of 2008.

Monique Colonges


* Eurocopter holds a 10% share in this company

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Identity Card

Name: Jamco Corporation
Date of Creation: September 1955
Workforce: 1,000
President: Osamu Terada
Head Office: Tokyo
Facilities: Japan, the Netherlands, the United States, Singapore
Activities: airplane maintenance, fitting out airplane interiors, and manufacturing airplane components
Main Shareholders: Itochu Corporation, Japan Airlines Co. Ltd., All Nippon Airways Co. Ltd.
ANA Aircraft Maintenance (ANAM) - Approval Renewal

In May 2006, Eurocopter renewed the ANAM agreement for its repair and maintenance center in Japan, where the company performs D-level repairs on the Ecureuil and Dauphin, and O- and I-level maintenance operations. The renewal is valid for five years. This center, which forms the maintenance branch of the Japanese airline All Nippon Airways (ANA), had previously been approved for the Ecureuil, Dauphin/EC155, Puma and Super Puma helicopters. With this renewal, the scope of activities has now been extended to the EC120 B Colibri, EC130 B4, and EC135. The EC135 is really taking off in Japan, especially for Emergency Medical Service (EMS) missions and television broadcasts.