Patria and Copterline start helicopter cooperation

Patria and Copterline have signed a cooperation agreement considering maintenance and logistic support of Copterline’s Eurocopter EC135 helicopters on 13 February 2008. According to the agreement Patria Helicopters AB will be responsible for the Copterline maintenance operations in the future.

Patria is investing heavily to strengthen its role as one of the leading Nordic helicopter and military aircraft life cycle support providers. This agreement supports Patria’s goal to become the most important helicopter life cycle support competence centre in the Nordic countries and the Baltic region.

In Patria the long experience as authorised Eurocopter, Agusta and Bell helicopter maintenance supplier is combined with the experience of the ongoing final assembly of the NH90 helicopters in cooperation with NHIndustries and Eurocopter. These together create a solid foundation to offer and develop new support services to meet the different needs of the customers. Patria has maintained EC-135 helicopters since 2001 for the Swedish Police (Rikspolisstyrelsen) and several years for the ambulance helicopter operator SHT - Skärgårdshavets Helikoptertjänst operating the Medi-Heli service.

Patria is a defence and aerospace group with international operations delivering its customers competitive solutions based on own specialist know-how and partnerships. Patria is owned by the State of Finland and the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V.

Copterline, founded in 1999, is a Finnish helicopter company operating HEMS medical and rescue helicopters. The company has three rescue helicopter bases, where the helicopters and pilots are on call 24 hours a day. The operations are carried through with four twin-engine EC135 P2 helicopters and about twenty professional pilots. The route flights between Helsinki and Tallinn started in 2000 have been interrupted until further notice.  

Further information:

Patria  
Jukka Holkeri  
Executive Vice President   
Tel. +358 40 869 2008

Copterline Oy  
Kaj Takolander  
General Manager  
Tel. +358 500 507 908