Eurocopter has again delayed certification of its developmental EC175 super medium helicopter as it looks to ensure maturity of the type before it enters service.

The EC175 will now be approved by EASA in "early 2014", slipping from the third quarter of 2013, said the airframer's chief technology officer Jean-Brice Dumont at a Paris media briefing on Tuesday.

EC175 

 Eurocopter EC175

A previous delay to the programme was announced late last year, pushing entry into service into 2013.

Dumont says that although certification is a "major milestone", it is more important to ensure the helicopter and its support network are fully prepared for service entry.

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Source: Flight Daily News