Grand Prairie, TX – November 24, 2009 – American Eurocopter announced today that Paradigm Helicopters has taken delivery of its first AS350B3 helicopter. Paradigm Helicopters is a commercial helicopter company located in Houston, TX, that provides a variety of services including aerial photography, movie/TV camera operation, real estate and survey flights, utility patrols and tour packages.

“When we were looking for a new helicopter, we knew we needed a reliable, high performance, single-engine helicopter that could accommodate the variety of missions we fly,” explained Todd Degidio, chief pilot and director of operations for Paradigm Helicopters. “The AS350B3 gave us everything we wanted plus an added safety level with its dual hydraulics and dual FADEC.”

The AS350 is a powerful and reliable aircraft that has established itself with its unmatched performance, extensive mission equipment options and the safety of its multiple-redundancy system design. Companies like Paradigm Helicopters also choose the AS350 for its large cabin space and flexibility that allows for a variety of configurations to meet a wide range of mission needs.

Paradigm Helicopters’ AS350 has a host of extras to support the multi-mission capabilities of their aircraft. The helicopter was delivered with floats, space pods for extra storage, and it was configured for a 3,000 lb. cargo swing or a Bambi bucket for forestry contracts and fire fighting. It also has an NVG cockpit. “All of our pilots are NVG qualified, so this gives us an enhanced level of safety for our night missions,” states Degidio.

Flying out of Ellington Field on the Southside of Houston, Paradigm Helicopters has great access to the Gulf of Mexico, as well as many of the surrounding communities. Degidio, who has 19 years of flight experience including 15 years as a police pilot, is anxious to bring Paradigm’s services to the surrounding area. “This helicopter is one of the most flexible, multi-mission helicopters I’ve ever flown and it will allow us to expand our capabilities and offer a wider variety of services to our customers,” he says.

About American Eurocopter

American Eurocopter is a helicopter manufacturer that produces, markets, sells and supports the broadest range of civil and para-public helicopters offered by any manufacturer in the United States. The company is a subsidiary of EADS North America Holdings, the North American operations of EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services, and is an affiliate of Eurocopter, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world. American Eurocopter’s product line represents the most cost-effective, technologically-advanced helicopters, ranging from light single to heavy twin, serving all markets and missions. Company headquarters and main facilities are located in Grand Prairie, TX, with a large manufacturing and production facility in Columbus, MS, that produces the UH-72A for the U.S. Army’s Light Utility Helicopter program.