Loxwood Holdings, a group of specialist companies that operate in strategic risk management and security, has become the first UK customer to buy the latest AS350 model, the B3e.

“Having owned other new helicopters before, but never a Eurocopter product, I did a lot of personal research and benchmarking before contacting Eurocopter UK at Oxford,” says Christopher John Holland, ceo of Loxwood.

“Since then I am delighted with the whole experience; the staff I have been involved with, the product, the passion from their people here and back in France. And the full, locally available OEM support which is quite unique, compared to what I have faced in the past.”

The AS350B3e first entered service in September 2011, and has a seven-seat configuration.

“We are very proud to add Loxwood Holdings and the new AS350 to our Eurocopter family in the UK”, says Markus Steinke, md of Eurocopter UK Limited.

“We are mindful that our customers have a wide choice of single helicopters these days, but we are also aware that besides the pure product, the scope, quality and proximity of through-life support has become a more important issue than in the past for these customers – and with the capability of Britain's civil helicopter hub here at Oxford we offer a comprehensive solution, unmatched by any other OEM,” Steinke says.

The company also has a network of regional engineers and a fleet of 20 Eurocopter mobile units covering the country. Today, around 5,350 Ecureuils have been delivered in 130 countries to some 1,600 operators.