Eurocopter is Awarded the “Prix Réussite” by the Association Aéronautique et Astronautique de France in Recognition of its Landing on the Summit of Mount Everest
Marignane, 29 November 2006
On 28 November 2006, during a ceremony at the Pavillon Gabriel in Paris, the Association Aéronautique et Astronautique de France (AAAF) awarded its “Prix Réussite” to Eurocopter. This prize was given in recognition of the landing of an AS350 B3 on the summit of Mount Everest in May 2005.
Founded in 1971, the AAAF has been awarding its “Prix Réussite” every year since 1973. This prize “recognizes a team that has stood out by conducting a far-reaching project whose technical or scientific achievement enhances the fields of aeronautics and space”. This applies to Eurocopter whose team set the world altitude record by landing on ‘top of the world’ on 14 May 2005. Former distinguished winners of this prize were the Concorde team and the Airbus Flight Tests team.
On 14 February 2006, the International Aeronautical Federation (IAF) validated and confirmed the world high-altitude record set on 14 and 15 May 2005 by a series production AS350 B3. This aircraft made two landings and takeoffs from the summit of Mount Everest, at an altitude of 8,850 meters (29,035 ft). These two flights, performed by Didier Delsalle, the Eurocopter Experimental Test Pilot, included two landings on the peak of this mountain, where the helicopter stayed for more than two minutes in line with the IAF regulation. Eurocopter was delighted to accept this award on behalf of all of the group’s employees responsible for the exceptional performances of our helicopters.
About Eurocopter
Eurocopter is a wholly-owned subsidiary of EADS. EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2005, EADS generated revenues of € 34.2 billion and employed a workforce of about 113,000. The EADS Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world's largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter and the joint venture MBDA, the international leader in missile systems. EADS is the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium, is the prime contractor for the Ariane launcher, develops the A400M military transport aircraft and is the largest industrial partner for the European satellite navigation system Galileo.
For more information, please contact:
| Cécile VION-LANCTUIT | Eurocopter |
Tel.: +33 (0)1 49 34 45 04 Cellphone: +33 (0)6 72 83 90 67 mailto: cecile.vion-lanctuit@eurocopter.com |
