CMIG Leasing takes delivery of China’s 100th helicopter from the Ecureuil family

·The Ecureuil family becomes the first helicopter fleet with 100 aircraft operating in China’s civil and para-public market

·The H125 will be deployed for power line surveillance, geographic surveys and aerial videography missions

Beijing, 9 December 2016 – CMIG Leasing received a brand new H125 helicopter from Airbus Helicopters in Marignane, France, making it the 100thEcureuil family helicopter to operate in China’s skies.

This helicopter will be operated by the Shanghai Skyway General Aviation Company (Skyway GAC), one of the pioneers in China general aviation, with a fleet of seven H125. Skyway GAC will deploy this new helicopter for power line surveillance, geographic surveys and aerial videography missions in the country.

“We have been utilizing Airbus Helicopters’ aircraft for many years, and we are confident that we can immediately benefit from the Ecureuil helicopter family for its outstanding performance, reliability, safety, and multi-mission capabilities, coupled with CMIG Leasing’s strong financial solution”, said Wang Bei, Chairman of Skyway GAC.

“CMIG Leasing is committed to providing robust helicopters leasing solutions to meet the dynamic general aviation market growth in China. Partnering Airbus Helicopters, today’s delivery testifies to the marriage of an advanced and innovative product range from Airbus Helicopters, and a solid leasing portfolio from CMIG, that enhances value for our customers”, said Wang Rong, CMIG Leasing Chairman.

CMIG signed an agreement with Airbus Helicopters in 2015, to acquire 100 H125 and H130 Ecureuil aircraft over five years, with first deliveries starting in 2016.

“We are delighted to see 100 aircraft of our Ecureuil family now flying in China, which reinforces Airbus Helicopters’ leading position in China’s civil and para-public helicopter market”, said Marie-Agnes Veve, Head of Airbus Helicopters China. “In 2015, Airbus Helicopters secured 75% share of the single-engine helicopter market in China. We are confident that our proven and reliable helicopter solutions will add long term growth value to the operators here in China, as the country progressively opens its skies to more helicopter activities.”

Airbus Helicopters’ Ecureuil family is the first and only single type of helicopter fleet, with 100 rotorcraft operating in China’s fast-growing civil and para-public markets. Accumulatively, the Ecureuil family has clocked over 85,000 flight hours in China. The H125 outclasses all other single-engine helicopters for its performance, versatility, safety and low maintenance, while excelling in high altitudes, and in hot and extreme environment. It is a proven rotorcraft with successful deployments in power line, fire-fighting, geographic survey, agriculture, video-filming and passenger transportation in China, while the H130 is a rising star in HEMS (Helicopters Emergency Medical Services), tourism as well as aerial work missions.

Celebration held to mark first milestone of Pathways to Shipbuilding Indigenous Education and Apprenticeship Pilot Program

Halifax, NS – Nineteen Indigenous students enrolled in the Pathways to Shipbuilding Indigenous Education and Apprenticeship Pilot Program (Pathways to Shipbuilding) are one step closer to a long-term career as metal fabricators building ships for Canada with Irving Shipbuilding.

Today students celebrated the successful completion of the Pathways to Shipbuilding’s initial 14-week preparatory training required for their entry into the Metal Fabrication program at Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC).

 Pathways to Shipbuilding is a unique collaboration of ten industry, government, academic and Indigenous partners. The program, facilitated through the NSCC Irving Shipbuilding Centre of Excellence, is designed to create pathways and support for Indigenous Canadians to enter the shipbuilding industry.

The Mi’kmaq Native Friendship Centre is the lead community partner and is working with other Indigenous organizations to provide support services to the students.

The 14-week preparatory training program focused on personal and academic readiness and metal fabrication career exploration. Students spent the first month in class at the Mi’kmaq Native Friendship Centre before moving to NSCC’s Akerley Campus where they completed safety courses and spent time learning welding basics.

Over the course of the two-year metal fabrication program, participants will learn and work together, and be mentored and coached by community and industry supporters, including employees working at Irving Shipbuilding.

Students will begin the Metal Fabrication program in January 2017 and conduct two work-terms at Irving Shipbuilding throughout the program. Successful graduates who meet employment eligibility criteria will be employed by Irving Shipbuilding at the end of the two-year diploma program as positions become available.

The Pathways to Shipbuilding collaborators include Irving Shipbuilding Inc., GE Canada, Unifor, NSCC, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), Aboriginal Affairs (OAA), the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency, and Labour and Advanced Education (LAE). 

About the NSCC Irving Shipbuilding Centre of Excellence:

Irving Shipbuilding currently employs 1,500 people, and will be for the next 30 years building Canada’s future combatant fleet as part of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). NSS is designed to create a future of certainty for Canada’s shipbuilding industry and the companies that support it. In anticipation of this, the NSCC Irving Shipbuilding Centre of Excellence was established to provide opportunities for Nova Scotians, particularly under-represented groups, to enter the shipbuilding industry. 

Quotes:

The Honourable Judy M. Foote, Minister of Public Services and Procurement:

“One of the goals of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy is to rejuvenate our marine industry, support Canadian technological innovation, and bring jobs and prosperity to many communities across Canada. Initiatives such as the Pathways to Shipbuilding Indigenous Education and Apprenticeship Pilot Project is helping to create much-needed jobs that will benefit the establishment of a strong and sustainable shipbuilding industry in Canada.”

Honourable Kelly Regan, Minister of Labour and Advanced Education and Minister responsible for the Apprenticeship Agency:

“This is a great example of the success that can come from government, industry, and community partners working together. The Pathways to Shipbuilding program creates opportunities for aboriginal young people to enter the shipbuilding industry, so they can train toward apprenticeships and successful careers here in the province.” 

Don Bureaux, President Nova Scotia Community College:

“It is an honour to be a part of this incredible partnership that is fostering a tremendous opportunity for a class of determined students who will have the chance to invest the skills and education they receive back into the success of this significant Canadian project.”

Kevin McCoy, President of Irving Shipbuilding, Irving Shipbuilding

“Pathways to Shipbuilding is an exciting part of our workforce strategy that increases trades specific skills and creates long-term metal fabrication career opportunities for Indigenous Canadians. Our work at the Halifax Shipyard building ships for Canada as part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy will increase our workforce by 1,000 shipbuilders over the next five to ten years. It is important that we seek out the best talent from all across the country. Good luck to the students as they begin their metal fabrication training." 

Jamie Sanipass, Elsipogtog First Nation, New Brunswick Student, Pathways to Shipbuilding:

“I think one of the coolest things about it is just the size of the program. They didn’t just look for people in one city or one province, there are people in our class from New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. You can tell they put in the time to find the right people for the program.”

Kim Warburton, VP, Communications & Public Affairs, GE Canada:

“GE is proud to be a part of the Pathways to Shipbuilding initiative, a unique 2-year collaborative program, combining academic and hands-on learning.  Congratulations to all participants for achieving the first program milestone.”

Pam Gloade, Executive Director, Friendship Centre

“The Pathways to Shipbuilding program is a great example of communities and organizations coming together to create opportunities for Indigenous people in our region. Our staff have enjoyed working with and supporting the students as they prepare for their training, and we will be there to support them as they work hard to become proud Indigenous marine fabricators and shipbuilders.”

Bob Orr, Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer:

“As the union representing workers at the Halifax Shipyard, Unifor is very pleased to be part of the Pathways to Shipbuilding project and we extend our most enthusiastic congratulations to the students as they move on to the next phase in their training. This program can be a model for unions, employers and governments in every region of the country as we work towards more inclusive workplaces and to provide opportunities to First Nations and Aboriginal workers.”

German federal police to receive three H215 helicopters

For challenging missions such as maritime emergencies

Offering high versatility and availability

Donauwörth, 7 December 2016 – The German federal police (Bundespolizei) has signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters for the purchase of three H215 multi-role rotorcraft via the purchasing administration of the German Federal Ministry of Interior . The aircraft will be tasked with a number of challenging roles, among them maritime emergencies and police missions. The helicopters are scheduled for delivery in early 2019. 

The Bundespolizei currently operates 19 helicopters of the Super Puma family. The aircraft are flown 365 days a year in missions as diverse as the transport of personnel over large distances and under difficult weather conditions, e.g. VIP transport, complex search and rescue missions and disaster relief operations. For each mission the helicopters need to be converted extremely quickly as high availability is key for conducting successful operations.

“We are very proud of our long track record of successful cooperation with the Bundespolizei,” said Wolfgang Schoder, CEO of Airbus Helicopters Germany. “The H215 is exactly the right solution to meet the demanding mission requirements of national police forces.”

The heavy-weight, twin-engine H215 helicopter is a member of the Super Puma family, designed to operate in a variety of missions such as aerial work with internal and external loads, law enforcement, medical evacuation, SAR, and humanitarian missions. It combines advanced avionics with a reliable platform, offering outstanding performance for long-distance flights, high speed, excellent payload capacity and very good lifting performance. The aircraft is equipped with the latest state-of-the-art equipment. This includes a glass cockpit and the new 4-axis autopilot, which provides flight envelope protection, unrivalled precision, and stability in even the harshest operating conditions. 

Airbus Helicopters is the global market leader for police helicopters: it has delivered close to 50 percent of these helicopters in the last ten years. Around 300 customers based in 60 countries have been operating Airbus Helicopters rotorcraft for law-enforcement missions for decades.