Story ID: 402 Helibras 40
Helibras Turns 40
By: David Donald
Caption: Brazil's helicopter manufacturer is celebrating four decades of building Airbus helicopters designs for the local market
Word Count: 103
This year Brazil’s only helicopter manufacturer, Helibras, celebrates its 40th anniversary. Originally owned by MGI Participações (Minas Gerais state government), Bueninvest, and Eurocopter, it became wholly owned by the last in 2006. When all Eurocopter divisions were rebranded as Airbus Helicopters in January 2014, Helibras retained its original name. The company was established at São Jose dos Campos on Jan. 1, 1978, moving to its current location at Itajubá in 1980. It has made various Airbus Helicopter designs for the Brazilian market and export to neighboring nations. At LABACE the company is displaying the first EC145 to be delivered to a Brazilian customer.