Airbus Helicopters, Inc. manufactures, markets, sells and supports the broadest range of civil and parapublic helicopters in the United States. It is the U.S. affiliate of Airbus Helicopters – the world’s largest rotorcraft manufacturer and a subsidiary of Airbus Group, a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services.
Since beginning operations in 1969, Airbus Helicopters, Inc. has grown to become a leading provider of rotorcraft for U.S. civilian, parapublic and military markets. To date, more than 1,800 Airbus Helicopters rotary-wing aircraft are flown by more than 440 U.S. operators – including corporate and business customers, hospitals and emergency medical services, tourism operators, law enforcement agencies, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Airbus Helicopters, Inc. has consistently maintained a major share of rotorcraft sales to the U.S. law enforcement sector – supplying more than 50 law enforcement agencies from coast-to-coast. It also is the predominant supplier for tour, corporate and air medical services operators in the U.S., with users selecting Airbus Helicopters rotorcraft due to their large cabins, speed and excellent reliability.
The company’s government sector presence has grown significantly in recent years, building on decades of proven service – with aircraft now operating with over 75 agencies nationwide, including major federal operators such as the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ).
In the military sector, the U.S. Army operates the multi-role UH-72A Lakota – a variant of the Airbus Helicopters H145 – from bases across the U.S. In addition, the U.S. Coast Guard’s inventory of approximately 100 HH-65 Dolphin search & rescue and homeland security helicopters have been updated to the latest HH-65C standard with more powerful engines and system upgrades.
Airbus Helicopters, Inc. has two major U.S. industrial locations. One is its Grand Prairie, Texas-based headquarters and completion center, with responsibilities for training, engineering support, testing, customization, sales, marketing and more.
At Columbus, Mississippi’s Golden Triangle Regional Airport, a state-of-the-art Airbus Helicopters, Inc. facility assembles UH-72A Lakotas for the U.S. Army. In 2014, the site delivered its first H125 – America’s most popular helicopter – from a new full production line established as part of the company’s “made in the USA” strategy. Repairs, upgrades and customization for various Airbus Helicopters rotorcraft types also are performed in Columbus.
Across the United States, Airbus Helicopters has a growing system of regional support centers and network of technical representatives at the service of its customers and operators.
Previously called American Eurocopter, the company began operating as Airbus Helicopters, Inc. in February 2014 as part of the reorganization and rebranding of Airbus Helicopters and Airbus Group (formerly Eurocopter and EADS, respectively). Under the new structure, Airbus Helicopters benefits from and enriches the Airbus brand as it develops, manufactures, markets and supports a diversified and highly capable rotorcraft product line.