EC175 regains momentum as testing period nears end

摘要

Eurocopter is close to complet-ng flight and ground tests on its in-development EC175 super-medium twin ahead of certification next year. The airframer is confident it will reach the end-of-test milestone by the end of September, says Dominique Maudet, Euro-copter executive vice-president global business and services. "Most of the trials have been done," says Maudet. "Then it is more a matter of finalising the certification process and completing the paperwork." Entry into service of the 7.5t type has been delayed twice over the last 12 months, with the most recent slippage-pushing certification and first delivery from this year into 2014 - announced at the Paris air show in June. Nonetheless, Maudet believes the programme is regaining some of its lost momentum. "We are pleased with the progress. We are now pushing to get the first helicopter to the customer.