With more than 670 of its rotorcraft operating across the African continent, Airbus Helicopters’ presence at next week’s ShieldAfrica exhibition will spotlight the role of its product line in serving this evolving market’s varied missions.

“The designed-in versatility of our aircraft is demonstrated daily in Africa, where they are deployed on demanding missions in some of the world’s most difficult operating conditions,” explained Loic Porcheron, Airbus Helicopters’ Vice President for Africa and Middle East. “Adding to their reliability are the competitive maintenance costs and operational effectiveness for which our products are known worldwide.”

The Airbus Helicopters fleet in Africa is utilized by 200 operators, who deploy the rotorcraft in roles that range from military, parapublic and law enforcement missions – particularly border patrol, search/rescue, natural disaster relief and anti-poaching duties,- to Oil and Gas transportation, emergency medical airlift, as well as private and executive transportation.

These operations are backed by Airbus Helicopters’ commitment to customer support, which includes proximity presence through its subsidiary in South Africa as well as service centres.

To be displayed by Airbus Helicopters at ShieldAfrica are scale models of its light single-engine AS350 Ecureuil, medium-weight AS365 Dauphin and multi-role AS332 Super Puma. The company will be co-exhibiting with International Aircraft Services, an Abidjan-based helicopter services provider whose Airbus Helicopters-built fleet is composed of the AS365 Dauphin, AS355 Ecureuil and SE316 B Alouette rotorcraft types. The company is already performing the maintenance of the AS365, which is used by the Presidency of Ivory Coast.

The ShieldAfrica exhibition is being held May 6-8 at the Ivory Coast’s National Police Academy at Abidjan.

Airbus Group press release