October 8, 2010 Grand Prairie, TX – Today American Eurocopter unveiled the most technologically advanced, single-engine helicopter flight and mission simulator in the world. During a launch event in the company’s Training Center, more than 100 customers, industry personnel and media were on hand to view the new AS350 simulator and usher in a new era of training for helicopter pilots and crews.

“Safety is our number one priority and to help ensure the safe operation of our aircraft, we have made a significant investment in the development of our simulators,” said Marc Paganini, President and CEO of American Eurocopter. “The efforts of our American Eurocopter team have culminated in the world’s most technologically advanced AS350 flight and mission simulator, which is now available to our customers.”

Developed with Indra Systems, American Eurocopter’s full-motion, AS350 flight and mission simulator features a full AS350 cabin that provides an enhanced training environment for pilots and crews.

In the United States alone, there are more than 750 AS350 helicopters in service and the aircraft has become the aircraft of choice for a variety of missions throughout the United States including law enforcement and emergency medical services. The new AS350 flight and mission simulator will provide options for complete aircraft emergency procedure training, Crew Resource Management (CRM) training, NVG training, Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) mission training, and Airborne Law Enforcement (ALE) training.

The simulator is convertible from AS350 B2 to AS350 B3 and it is equipped with a full-motion platform, a full cabin for “true” CRM training, VEMD, NVG, auto pilot, FLIR Star Safire III (including hand controller, TV and IR mode), moving map functionality, and a SpecraLab S-16 slaved searchlight.

ALE training packages are already available. Other missions, including HEMS, will be available soon. For more information about American Eurocopter’s AS350 full-motion flight and mission simulator, its training packages, or to find out more about American Eurocopter’s Training Center, contact Andy Litteral at 972-641-5091, or andy.litteral@eurocopterusa.com.

About American Eurocopter
American Eurocopter is a helicopter manufacturer that produces, markets, sells and supports the broadest range of civil and para-public helicopters offered by any manufacturer in the United States. The company is a subsidiary of EADS North America Holdings, the North American operations of EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services, and is an affiliate of Eurocopter, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world. American Eurocopter’s product line represents the most cost-effective, technologically-advanced helicopters, ranging from light single to heavy twin, serving all markets and missions. Company headquarters and main facilities are located in Grand Prairie, TX, with a large manufacturing and production facility in Columbus, MS, that produces the UH-72A for the U.S. Army’s Light Utility Helicopter program.