Eurocopter taps Brazil’s resources

Eurocopter CEO Lutz Bertling in June said Brazil is to become his company’s “fourth domestic country,” after France, Germany and Spain. Pointing out the country wants to build its helicopter industry into a major player–like Embraer in regional jets–he said Helibras, a 70-percent-owned local subsidiary, will expand. Over the coming years, it will double in size and staff (workforce currently stands at 300). Engineering capabilities will be brought to a level where “the Brazilians will be able to design and build their own helicopter,” Bertling said.