February 26, 2010 - American Eurocopter and U.S. Customs and Border Protection has entered into the first option year on the Light Enforcement Helicopter (LEH) contract and placed an order for six AS350B3s. This is the second order on the LEH contract that was awarded to American Eurocopter by the Department of Homeland Security in July 2008.

“The AS350 B3 has proven that it is well-suited for the CBP’s surveillance missions and security patrol,” said Marc Paganini, American Eurocopter President and CEO. “It provides a cost-effective, durable and high-performance solution to meet their varied mission objectives.”

The LEH contract with the Department of Homeland Security is a multi-year contract and may result in orders for a total of 50 AS350B3s and could be worth over US0 million. The first helicopter on the contract was delivered in December 19, 2008 and to date, 14 aircraft have been delivered. The LEH aircraft are produced in the company’s facilities in Columbus, Mississippi. “Our employees take pride in knowing that aircraft they produce are an integral part in assisting the CBP in their important homeland security missions,” explained Paganini.

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. With its proven law enforcement integration and unparalleled visibility, the AS350 family has become the preferred platform for U.S. law enforcement agencies and has emerged as an essential tool in the fight against crime.

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.