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Wednesday, July 24, 2013

■ SOUTH AFRICA: Eurocopter authorizes Denel Aviation to provide MRO services to Super Pumas.

Eurocopter has expanded its partnership with South Africa’s Denel Aviation on helicopter repair and maintenance. Under the new contract with the European helicopter manufacturer, Denel Aviation has received authorization to offer its repairs and servicing capabilities on Super-Puma helicopters in Southern Africa.

Super Puma
The latest contract includes the overhaul of specialised helicopter transmission systems on Puma and Super Puma helicopters, rotor blades on Super Pumas and also extends Denel Aviation’s relationship as a Eurocopter-approved Repair & Overhaul Centre in the Southern African Development Community and Kenya.

This permits Denel Aviation to repair and service BO-105, Alouette and Puma helicopters. It is also approved to service the SA Police Service’s AS350 Squirrel helicopters.

Denel Aviation’s services on these various Eurocopter helicopters will now extend from light to deep maintenance, inspections, servicing and repairs of individual components and up to complete aircraft overhauls.  It covers both civil and military helicopters.
Denel Aviation CEO, Mike Kgobe, said the agreement “is a huge vote of confidence in Denel Aviation’s capabilities by Eurocopter, a world leader in helicopter design and manufacturer. It underlines the excellence of South Africa’s aerospace sector and opens yet another chapter in Denel’s resurgence.
There are currently over 250 Eurocopter helicopters in the region, serving with private and corporate civil operators and also with military, law enforcement, emergency rescue and other para-public organisations.