The Turkish operator Koçoğlu Aviation to receive new EC135 helicopters

A total of 12 aircraft will be operated for emergency medical services

Eurocopter is pleased to announce the deliveries of new EC135 helicopters to the Turkish operator Koçoğlu Aviation, who has ordered a total of 12 helicopters. Koçoğlu Aviation has been operating six aircraft since November 2008, and the remaining new aircraft will be delivered in August 2009. The helicopters will perform emergency medical services to and from hospitals equipped with helicopter landing facilities.

The Turkish operator ordered 12 aircraft in 2008: Ten of the helicopters are EC135s with the last two being an EC145 and an EC155 operated on lease.

The helicopters were ordered for the Turkish government’s Emergency Helicopter Medical Service (EHMS) project. In less than a year, Koçoğlu Aviation has invested €100 million to meet the needs of the Turkish Health Ministry as part of a five-year renewable contract..

This is the first time that a project of this scale has been introduced in Turkey and in such a short span of time as well. Koço?lu Aviation only won the tender launched by the Ministry of Health in summer last year, even if Eurocopter has been working closely with the operator since February 2008 to ensure the project's success.

Thanks to its worldwide network, Eurocopter was able to react very quickly to provide the number of aircraft required as well as quality training courses for more than 20 pilots and 30 technicians in under a year. Thanks to Eurocopter’s logistic support!, the first operations were launched five months after the contract was signed by the Turkish Health Ministry and Koçoğlu Aviation.

Since October 2008, the Eurocopter aircraft dubbed the “Red Angels” due to their paint scheme,, have been flying an average of six hours a day saving lives in every region of Turkey: Ankara, Istanbul, Erzurum, Diyarbakir, Kayseri and Antalya. Over time, the helicopters will be deployed in other cities as well.

The high-quality maintenance provided by Skyline, Koçoğlu Aviation’s subsidiary, on its fleet has encouraged Eurocopter to speed up its project to build a certified maintenance center in Turkey for its entire range of helicopters. Plans call for the center to be set up in Ankara so that it can serve the entire country via Skyline’s network.

Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a Division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defence and related services. The Eurocopter Group employs approx. 15,600 people. In 2008, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s No. 1 helicopter manufacturer in the civil and parapublic market, with a turnover of 4.5 billion Euros, orders for 715 new helicopters, and a 53 percent market share in the civil and parapublic sectors. Overall, the Group’s products account for 30 percent of the total world helicopter fleet. Its strong worldwide presence is ensured by its 18 subsidiaries on five continents, along with a dense network of distributors, certified agents and maintenance centres. More than 10,000 Eurocopter helicopters are currently in service with over 2,800 customers in more than 140 countries. Eurocopter offers the largest civil and military helicopter range in the world.

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