Eurocopter Logged Record Orders in 2006

Eurocopter last year took orders for a record 615 new helicopters, 47 percent of them civil. In the U.S., civil and parapublic customers ordered 153 aircraft. Worldwide, the best seller is the Ecureuil/EC 130 line, with 257 on order, including military versions. The European manufacturer’s backlog now stands at about $14 billion. Eurocopter delivered 381 rotorcraft last year. Revenues increased by 18 percent, to $4.9 billion. Eurocopter at press time was awaiting figures from its competitors to determine if last year it maintained its 2005 civil market share of 52 percent. In its three home countries–France, Germany and Spain–Eurocopter last year hired 1,200 people. The company said it will hire another 500 workers this year.