AHI-Columbus helo certified

ORLANDO, Fla. - The first Airbus AS350 AStar helicopter completely assembled in America at the Columbus, Miss., plant has received airworthiness certification from the FAA. The AS350 B3e rolled off the Mississippi assembly line in late December. AHI met a schedule set nearly two years ago, when the firm decided to establish a U.S. final assembly line for the helicopter. “The top selling, high performance single-engine turbine helicopter is now a U.S. citizen,” said Marc Paganini, president and CEO of AHI. The Columbus plant is designed to produce 30 AStars for this year and 60-plus for 2016 and beyond. (Source: PR Web 03/03/15)