Vietnam's Southern Service Flight Company logs 10,000 flight hours with one of its Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma helicopters | Press Release

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Press Release

Issued by Airbus Helicopters.

September 22, 2010

Vietnam's Southern Service Flight Company logs 10,000 flight hours with one of its Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma helicopters

An AS332L2 Super Puma helicopter operated by Vietnam's Southern Service Flight Company (SSFC) has surpassed the 10,000 flight hour milestone. Operations performed by this Super Puma range from the servicing of offshore oil rigs, cargo sling missions and evacuation duties to VIP transportation of top government officials.

Delivered by Eurocopter to SSFC in November 1994, this Super Puma is among four AS332L2s flown by the company – with another of the helicopters fast approaching its own 10,000-hour mark.

In addition to their role as rotary-wing aircraft of choice for offshore operations, the AS332L2s have been assigned special duties such as the transportation of high-level government officials, medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) flights, rescue work in northern Vietnam during the rainy season, and typhoon-related evacuations.

One of the recent assignments for SSFC's AS332L2s has been the replacement of low- and high-pressure flare tips on the Su Tu Vang central processing oil platform, which is situated off the Vietnam coastline in the Mekong Basin.

"The encouraging experience with our AS33SL2s has led to a further expansion of our helicopter fleet with the addition of two more EC225s last year – the latest generation of Eurocopter's Super Puma family – to meet clients' needs," said SSFC's Commercial Director Tran Dinh Nam. "Super Puma offers excellent performance and high level of safety for our wide range of operations. Together with the satisfaction of our customers, we expect these aircraft to continue contributing to our company's success in the future."

Eurocopter's Super Puma family of heavy duty helicopters is operating in more than 20 countries worldwide with over 1000 helicopters. The cornerstone AS332 combines twin- engine safety and medium-class performance with modern avionics and a glass cockpit, while the latest-generation EC225 derivative offers enhanced capabilities with an increased takeoff weight, more powerful engines, a five-blade main rotor and an advanced autopilot that incorporates state-of-the-art flight control modes (approach upper modes, envelope protection,...).

In addition to its Super Puma inventory of the four AS332L2s and two EC225s, SSFC also operates two EC155B helicopters. At least five of the company's pilots have accumulated more than 10,000 flight hours while operating these Eurocopter rotary-wing aircraft.