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Mensaje: <blockquote data-quote="paulo" data-source="post: 587369" data-attributes="member: 5327">European giant says South Africa could benefit from big Brazilian dealPicture by: Eurocopter<img src="http://llnw.creamermedia.co.za/articles/images/resized/52156_resized_dp-09275_penna.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />BIG CAT: A Eurocopter EC725 Super CougarBy: Keith CampbellPublished: 10 Oct 08 - 0:00A senior executive with giant European helicopter manufacturer Eurocopter says that South African company Advanced Technologies & Engineering (ATE) could indeed benefit from a major deal between Eurocopter and Brazil. “We have a very high regard for ATE’s capabilities regarding systems integration,” affirms Eurocopter senior vice-president: sales and customer relations Olivier Lambert. “They have flexibility and quickness in action. We have a number of possible cooperations with ATE, which we are discussing with them. One of them is ATE involvement in the engineering aspects of the Brazilian programme.”The deal, estimated by the Brazilian media to be worth some $1-billion, would see the Brazilian armed forces acquiring 51 Eurcopter EC725 Super Cougar medium transport helicopters – reportedly, 17 each for the army, the navy and the air force. The key element in the project is that the helicopters would be produced in Brazil by Eurocopter subsidiary Helibrás. This will reportedly require an investment of between $400-million and $500-million in the Brazilian company. Initially, it is believed that the aircraft would have a Brazilian content of only 5% to 10% but, with the transfer of technology from France, this should rise to about 50% in the medium term. “The deal has been agreed to, in principle,” reports Lambert. “We are currently in negotiations with the Brazilian Ministry of Defence, and we hope to conclude them before the end of the year.“In addition to setting up a production line for the EC725, the programme involves the localisation of all maintenance, including depot-level (in-depth) maintenance, the establishment of an engineering centre to customise the helicopters – now and in the future – for the Brazilian armed forces, and the creation of a training centre, with a simulator,” he explains. “This EC725 centre of excellence could also support the Brazilian offshore oil and gas sector and export markets in South America.” It is in the planned engineering centre that ATE could participate. “We want to set up a team in Brazil that could carry out the customisation of the helicopters, and we are having discussions with ATE to involve them in this activity,” he reveals.This year saw (in June) the thirtieth anniversary of the foundation of Helibrás, which has since produced hundreds of Eurocopter Ecureil (known as Esquilo in Brazil, and Squirrel in the English-speaking world) light helicopters, for the Brazilian and some neighbouring markets. “We’ve developed very strong civil, military and parapublic markets in Brazil,” highlights Lambert. (‘Parapublic’ is Eurocopter terminology for the police, fire service,and emergency aeromedical evacuation sectors.) “But the last time we sold military helicopters to Brazil was ten years ago – Cougars, to the army. Brazil needs to modernise its forces, it needs helicopters in the EC725 category, and it seeks to develop strategic industries. That’s why we proposed this programme, which needed a minimum order of 50 Super Cougars to be feasible.”Globally, Eurocopter ranks as the top supplier of helicopters to the civil and parapublic sectors. Last year was a record year for the company, with 802 new helicopters ordered, up from 615 in 2006 (these figures include orders for military helicopters). In value, the 2007 orders amount to €6,6-billion, a more than 30% increase on 2006’s total of €4,9-billion. Global group turnover last year was €4,17-billion, up from €3,8-billion in 2006.The company’s domestic markets – defined as France, Germany, and Spain – accounted for 32% of 2007 turnover, with exports contributing 68%; 51% of turnover came from the civil and parapublic markets and 49% from the military. Eurocopter won 53,3% of the worldwide market for civil and parapublic helicopters last year – second-placed Bell Helicopter Textron of the US accounted for 20,4%.The European group has more civil helicopter designs than any other company, covering the light single-engine, light twin- engine, medium twin-engine, and medium/heavy segments. The company also produces military helicopters, for the training, light and medium transport, antisubmarine warfare, and attack roles. Across the world, 2 694 customers in 142 countries operate more than 10 161 Eurocopter helicopters.The group also has a subsidiary in South Africa, Eurocopter Southern Africa, which is responsible for Africa south of the equator and for the Indian Ocean islands, and which undertakes the marketing and sale of Eurocopter helicopters, their reassembly and customisation to African requirements, the training of customer personnel, spares provision, and maintenance and support.Edited by: Martin Zhuwakinyu</blockquote>

Verificación: Libertador de Argentina