The AS350 B3 Helicopter Proves Its High-Altitude Performance with Rescue on Mt. McKinley

Marignane, May 23, 2011
The AStar family of helicopters has become the platform of choice for
a variety of missions throughout the world. From law enforcement to
utility and from tour to air medical and Search and Rescue, customers
across the globe depend on the performance and reliability of their
AStars to complete their vital missions.

On Thursday, May 12, 2011, an AS350 B3 helicopter from the Denali
National Park & Preserve was performed a high-altitude rescue on Mt.
McKinley of an injured climber, who had broken his leg in a fall near
the summit. It was one of the highest rescues recorded on Mt.
McKinley.

"We would like to commend the pilot and everyone involved in this
extraordinary rescue," stated Marc Paganini, President and CEO of
American Eurocopter. "Eurocopter helicopters are designed and built to
meet and exceed the demanding missions of our customers. Rescues like
this show the commitment of our customers to doing what it takes to
complete the mission and their confidence in our aircraft."

The AS350 B3 helicopter is provided and operated by TEMSCO on an
exclusive-use contract to the National Park Service (NPS) in the
Denali National Park & Preserve and is primarily used for mountain
rescues. This rescue occurred at 19,833 ft. The summit of Mt. McKinley
is at 20,320 ft., and it is known for inclement weather conditions.

The pilot of the AS350 B3 was Andreas Hermansky, a TEMSCO employee,
and he knew that this was not going to be a routine rescue.

"With a rescue of this magnitude at this altitude, the mission is so
complex," he said. With wind gusts to 70 mph and the temperature well
below zero, confidence in the aircraft and the pilot's abilities is a
must. Hermansky explained that to be ready for a rescue at this
altitude, he had to know the area, the aircraft and its performance at
altitude with flights to summit. "Rescues up here are so much more
than just flying an AStar. I have landed on the summit a couple of
times in various conditions, so I was comfortable with the aircraft
and knew it could handle this mission."

Mt. McKinley is a popular mountain for climbers from around the globe,
and more than 1000 have registered to climb it this year alone. Joe
Reichert, Denali National Park Ranger and South District Helicopter
Manager, explained that each year they conduct evacuations from
several locations and altitudes on the mountain. "We have on average
about 20 to 25 evacuations and SAR missions each year. The AS350 B3
provides us with the high-altitude performance we need to cover Mt.
McKinley and the extreme conditions we encounter. The most recent
high-altitude rescue is a perfect example of that."

The AS350 B3 from TEMSCO also provides a variety of mission support
for the Denali National Park & Preserve, in addition to search and
rescue. "This helicopter gives us the power and flexibility we need to
perform many functions throughout the preserve including resource
management, hauling equipment, ferrying researchers to remote
locations and repeater work," continues Reichert.

This multi-role appeal is also why TEMSCO has three AS350 B3s in its
fleet. "The AS350 B3 is a true multi-role helicopter," said Joe Hicks,
Senior Vice President of TEMSCO Helicopters. "It has outstanding
external load capabilities, and its hot & high performance allows us
to haul drills for geological surveys, assist the U.S. Forest Service
with field work, conduct firefighting missions, assist with
construction, and perform SAR missions, like the one on Mt. McKinley."

TEMSCO (an acronym from the words: Timber, Exploration, Mining,
Survey, Cargo Operations) was founded in 1958 in Ketchikan, Alaska.
TEMSCO has operated AStars since 1983. It was one of the launch
customers for the AS350 B3 in the United States and helped shape the
development of the aircraft due to the wide variety of missions the
company performs. "We took delivery of the second AS350 B3 in the
U.S., and TEMSCO has really grown with the B3," added Hicks. Its
helicopter fleet has grown, as it has expanded its operations into
tourism, hospital transport, firefighting, and other growing markets.

TEMSCO will have a fourth AS350 B3 delivered at the end of May.

About American Eurocopter
American Eurocopter is the U.S. affiliate of Eurocopter, the largest
helicopter manufacturer in the world, and a subsidiary of EADS North
America Holdings, the North American operations of EADS, the second
largest aerospace and defense company in the world. American
Eurocopter is a helicopter manufacturer and 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, TX,
with a large manufacturing and production facility in Columbus, MS.

About Eurocopter
Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a
division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defense and related
services. The Eurocopter Group employs approximately 17,500 people. In
2010, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world's number one
helicopter manufacturer in the civil and parapublic market with a
turnover of 4.8 billion Euros, orders for 346 new helicopters and a 49
percent market share in the civil and parapublic sectors. Overall, the
Group's helicopters account for 33 percent of the total worldwide
civil and parapublic fleet. Eurocopter's strong worldwide presence is
ensured by its 30 subsidiaries and participations on five continents,
along with a dense network of distributors, certified agents and
maintenance centers. There are currently 11,200 Eurocopter helicopters
in service and some 2,900 customers in 147 countries. Eurocopter
offers the largest civil and military helicopter range in the world.

press release