Aircraft and Helicopters

EADS is a leading supplier of aircraft to the North American market.  

EADS North America is prime contractor for the U.S. Army’s UH-72A Light Utility Helicopter, and will be providing up to 322 aircraft with a potential total program life-cycle value of over $2 billion. The UH-72As are being assembled and delivered by the American Eurocopter subsidiary of EADS North America, which is the largest helicopter provider in the U.S. for commercial, law enforcement, homeland defense and other applications. In the business and general aviation sector, EADS Socata North America Aircraft’s TBM 700 turboprop aircraft is increasingly used in passenger and cargo service by corporations, businesses and individuals. EADS affiliate company Airbus has captured a significant segment of the North American airline business, with U.S. and Canadian customers ordering more than 2,600 of the total 9,000-plus jetliners booked by Airbus worldwide.

In a major win as a U.S. military prime contractor, EADS North America was selected in June 2006 for the U.S. Army’s Light Utility Helicopter program. The company will provide up to 322 UH-72As, which are a version of the technologically-advanced and operationally-proven EC145 multi-mission helicopter. The Light Utility Helicopter award is a continuation of EADS' 20-year heritage as a helicopter supplier to U.S. national and homeland security agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, DEA and the FBI. UH-72A assembly and production will be handled at American Eurocopter’s state-of-the-art Columbus, Mississippi facility.

Airbus is a 100 percent EADS-owned company. Airbus aircraft are increasingly popular among North American airlines and leasing companies. Customers include Air Canada, American Airlines, America West, Federal Express, Frontier, GECAS, International Lease Finance Corporation, Guggenheim Aviation Partners, Intrepid Aviation, JetBlue, Northwest, Skybus, United Airlines, United Parcel Service, US Airways and Virgin America. Airbus corporate and executive jets have been ordered by Aerodynamics Inc. (ADI), Petters Aviation and Pharmair Corporation. Nearly all Airbus aircraft types – from the A318 to the A380 – are in operation or on order by North American customers.

American Eurocopter has more than 400 customers in the United States that own or operate over 1,300 Eurocopter helicopters in 14 model or variants. As wholly-owned subsidiary of EADS North America, American Eurocopter has responsibility for the marketing and sales, final assembly, customization, technical support, training, maintenance and repair of Eurocopter helicopters in the U.S. American Eurocopter’s main facility is in Grand Prairie, Texas, and a new plant in Columbus, Mississippi is for assembly and customization of the AStar helicopter, the production of A-Star components and the re-engining of U.S. Coast Guard HH-65s.

The responsibilities of EADS CASA North America include business development and aircraft sales in the North American market, as well as support of the C-212s and CN-235s used in the region for government missions and cargo/airfreight service. Another of its duties is representing the EADS Military Transport Aircraft Division in North America. Marketing and business development activity for EADS CASA North America is located at the Washington, D.C. headquarters of the EADS North America holding company. Support operations for EADS CASA North America – including training and spares – currently is located at Mobile, Alabama, where the U.S. Coast Guard is to phase-in the HC-144A as a maritime patrol aircraft for the Integrated Deepwater System (IDS) program.

Pembroke Pines, Florida-based Socata Aircraft is the sales and support headquarters for EADS Socata corporate and general aviation aircraft in America. The company is a subsidiary of EADS North America, and it handles marketing, maintenance, spare parts distribution and technical/customer support for the entire EADS Socata product line operating in America. Approximately 65 percent of the TBM 700 turboprop aircraft produced by the company are sold to customers in the U.S. and Canada.

EADS North America · 1616 North Ft. Myer Drive · Suite 1600 · Arlington, VA 22209
Tel.: (703) 236-3300 · Fax: (703) 236-3301