Helibras Delivers First VIP EC725 to the Brazilian Air Force

Helibras has delivered the first of two VIP-configured EC725 to the Brazilian Air Force under the H-XBR programme.


The aircraft was handed over to the air arm on 18 July in Brasila. The aircraft will be assigned to the Special Transportation Group, which regularly flies the president and other members of the government.


According to Helibras - a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eurocopter - the delivery marks the completion of the new EC725 production line at Itajuba, in Minas Gerais due to be inaugurated in the coming months.

'Our goal is that the nationalisation rate reaches 50%, which should happen by the year 2014. Consequently, we contribute to the development of domestic industry, since we entered into contracts with 15 Brazilian suppliers of parts and services,' said Eduardo Marson Ferreira, president of Helibras.


The production line will build 50 EC725s for the Brazilian armed forces and will also allow the assembly of the EC225 for the oil and gas support role. The company also re-iterated its aim of conceiving, designing and manufacturing a new design of helicopter in Brazil, thanks to 'technology transfer resulting from the expansion programme developed for this new unit'.

As part of the contract with the Brazilian armed forces, signed in 2008, Helibras hired and trained more than 400 new employees, with an emphasis on engineers and mechanics. Of these, approximately 100 have received training on Eurocopter France, for periods up to one year.


Rotorhub understands the VIP EC725 was built in France and delivered to Brazil onboard an An-124 transport aircraft which left Marseille on 27 June.