China's CITIC Offshore Helicopter (COHC) has ordered seven Eurocopter EC225 LP helicopters, to be used in COHC's airlift duties for the offshore oil and gas industry.
The helicopters will be delivered from December 2012 to December 2015, said Eurocopter. COHC's existing helicopter fleet includes Eurocopter's AS332 L1 Super Pumas, EC155s and AS365 Dauphins.
"With this new contract, COHC will further consolidate its leadership in China and Asia, positioning the company in the top 10 worldwide helicopter operations serving the oil and gas sector," said Eurocopter CEO Lutz Bertling.
In addition, COHC and Eurocopter have agreed to develop cooperative training services and establish a maintenance facility "for China and the wider Asian marketplace".
The joint efforts are expected to include a helicopter training centre with flight simulators and an overhaul facility "for dynamic components such as main gearboxes".
"We look forward to further expanding our excellent relationship with Eurocopter through this new cooperation, which is to offer services that respond to the expanding helicopter sector in China and Asia," COHC chairman Bi Wei added.
Source: Flight International
