Press Release

Issued by Airbus Helicopters.

November 2, 2010

Eurocopter will mark its 30-plus year presence in the Middle East and Arabian Gulf region with a major participation at this week's Dubai Helishow 2010, underscoring its helicopter product line's capabilities for evolving applications that include anti-piracy, counter- insurgency and border patrol missions; corporate and VVIP transportation; emergency medical airlift; search & rescue; as well as the servicing of offshore oil/gas platforms.

The company's long-term commitment to meet requirements of civil operators and armed forces in this geographic zone has resulted in more than 650 Eurocopter helicopters being flown in the Arab world by both civil and military users. Its success is backed by Eurocopter's dedication to ensuring optimised support to a growing customer base in daily operations.

Having sold more than 500 helicopters worldwide in the business aviation and VIP market segments during the past four years, Eurocopter continues to be the unrivalled leader in these sectors. Its product range answers the Arab world's specific needs for reliable, efficient and capable airlift that support the region's economic development through executive and corporate applications, and for transportation in support of the oil and gas industry.

Eurocopter's tailored products for the business and VIP markets include the EC135 "l'hélicoptère par Hermès" – a fusion between design and technology, whose first customer was Falcon Aviation Services in the United Arab Emirates; and the EC145 "Mercedes-Benz Style," designed in cooperation with the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studio in Como, Italy.

Eurocopter's new EC175 was created to meet the oil and gas industry's demanding requirements, providing safety and availability required for transporting large work teams to off- shore platforms and remote locations in the Middle East and Arabian Gulf. It also responds to the region's growing demands in search & rescue and emergency medical transport, and can meet commercial aviation expectations VIP and corporate transport as well.

An emerging market throughout the Middle East and Arabian Gulf is for civil emergency medical services performed by private operators, using outfitted helicopters to airlift injured patients. Eurocopter is the recognised worldwide leader in this market sector, with its EC135 and EC145 acknowledged as the helicopters of choice by leading hospitals and privately-operated providers around the globe.

Eurocopter has long been active in providing the best support to its international customer base in daily operations, and is committed to further developing its local presence in the Arab world. The company views this region as a strategic area for expansion, and is positioned to grow its footprint through actions that include new partnerships and other cooperative agreements.

The Helicopter Field Service International (HFSI) affiliate of Eurocopter has a well-established presence in Saudi Arabia, with its staff supporting a large rotary-wing fleet in the area. A UAE maintenance centre was opened in 2007 by Eurocopter with Falcon Aviation Services. The centre provides full maintenance and revision services, and reinforces Eurocopter's customer support network in the region.