Bristow Group Expands Its Eurocopter Fleet Adds two EC225s and three EC135s

At a signing ceremony yesterday during the Farnborough International Air Show, Bristow Group Inc. (NYSE: BRS) and Eurocopter/American Eurocopter announced that Bristow has exercised its option to purchase two more EC225 helicopters. These latest purchases will bring Bristow’s ordered fleet of large EC225s to 15 by the end of 2011. Also during the ceremony, the companies announced the purchase of three EC135 light twin-engine helicopters, plus the option to purchase one additional light aircraft.

“We are extremely proud to be chosen by Bristow to expand and upgrade its fleet with the additional EC225s and EC135s,” said Eurocopter President and CEO Dr. Lutz Bertling. “The oil and gas industry demands top-quality equipment to safeguard its people and to ensure safe and efficient operations offshore in increasingly remote and hostile environments. We’re pleased that Bristow is again looking to Eurocopter to help it meet that mission.”

The EC225s will be deployed globally to serve Bristow’s oil and gas customers with heavy twin-engine helicopters in all climate conditions for crew changes and search and rescue operations. Currently, Bristow operates six EC225s in the North Sea and has already taken delivery of a seventh EC225 for offshore service in northern Australia.

“Bristow will deploy the EC225s in the second half of 2009 in response to continued strong demand from our global customer base,” said Mark Duncan, Bristow Senior Vice President, Western Hemisphere. “We recently increased our outstanding options for this aircraft type from two to seven, for potential delivery in 2010 and 2011,depending on future market demand. This is a safe, reliable and efficient aircraft that our customers are increasingly asking for.”

The EC225 provides superior speed, range, maximum passengers and payload and reliability.
It is equipped with two Turbomeca Makila 2A turbine engines and FADEC digital engine control, with dual duplex channels that ensure the highest level of reliability. The aircraft also offers the most modern avionics and auto pilot capability on the market, and the five-blade main rotor provides a very high standard of comfort.

The EC135 is a light, twin-engine helicopter that also offers superior single-engine performance. The aircraft delivers safety, comfort and operational efficiency. Bristow currently has two EC135s in its fleet. These EC135s, which are scheduled for delivery between 2008 and 2009, will be deployed in the Gulf of Mexico.

Bristow Group Inc. is the leading provider of helicopter services to the worldwide offshore energy industry based on the number of aircraft operated. Through its subsidiaries, affiliates and joint ventures, the Company has operations in most of the major offshore oil and gas producing regions of the world, including in the North Sea, the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Nigeria and Australia.

American Eurocopter is the American subsidiary of Eurocopter, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world, and EADS North America, the North American operations of EADS, the second largest aerospace and defense company in the world. American Eurocopter markets, sells and supports the broadest range of civil and para-public helicopters offered by any manufacturer. The product line represents the most cost-effective, technologically-advanced helicopters, ranging from light single to heavy twin, serving all markets and missions. American Eurocopter's headquarters and main facility are in Grand Prairie, Texas, with a large manufacturing and production facility in Columbus, Mississippi. The company also has its West Coast Regional Support Facility, located in Long Beach, California, with plans in place to bring support facilities to other regions throughout the United States.

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. 14,000 people. In 2006, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s No. 1 helicopter manufacturer with a turnover of 3.8 billion euros, orders for 615 new helicopters, and a 52% 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 17 subsidiaries on five continents, along with a dense network of distributors, certified agents and maintenance centres. More than 9,800 Eurocopter helicopters are currently in service with over 2,500 customers in 140 countries. Eurocopter offers the largest civil and military helicopter range in the world.

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