Saab and Patria cooperates with Helikopter Service

HELIKOPTER SERVICE JOINS CO-OPERATION BETWEEN SAAB AND PATRIA FINAVITEC The Norwegian company Helikopter Service AS is joining co-operation between the Swedish group Saab AB (publ) and the Finnish group Patria Finavitec Oy concerning penetration of the System and Training markets for military helicopters. At the beginning of February this year, Saab AB and Patria Finavitec Oy signed an agreement on co-operation in order to establish a jointly owned company to support helicopter suppliers and their end customers with competitive operations for helicopter system and training work in the respective countries. The business concept is based on a single resource responsible for joint System and Training requirements with related training equipment and simulators, engineering rigs, configuration control, airworthiness support, etc. National resources could focus on the equipment with needs for daily access or national security. Combining the long experience of Helikopter Service in providing complete training packages for helicopter pilots and technical personnel with the competencies and resources of Saab and Patria will bring additional value to the concept, and thus contribute to enhanced customer satisfaction. This co-operation is considered to have development opportunities within the near future as regards helicopter purchase projects in the Nordic countries, such as the Nordic Standard Helicopter Program. Further information Saab AB Patria Finavitec Oy Helikopter Service AS Rolf Forsell Jukka Holkeri Jan Martinussen Director, Corporate Strategic VP, Support Technical Director Planning and Business Development Mobile:+358-50-549 4124 Mobile: +47 915 474 76 Tel. +46 13 185497 Tel.+358-3-5809793 Tel: +47 519 418 15 E-mail: rolf.forsell@saab.se E- E-mail: mail:jukka.holkeri@patria.fi jmartinu@hesgrp.com Notes to the editor Saab AB is one of Northern Europe´s leading high technology company and operates within the defense and aerospace areas and offers leading-edge products and systems built on sophisticated information technology. Its business areas are Infomatics, Aerospace, Dynamics, Technical Support & Services, Space and Aviation Services. Saab has 16,800 employees. Patria Industries is a Finnish technology group whose business activities include defence, aerospace and space, and telecommunications products and services. Among the most important products and services are aircraft and helicopter maintenance, aerospace structures and electronic systems, military and special vehicles, airport snow removal equipment and weapon systems. Patria Group employs over 2,100 people. The Patria Finavitec Business Group is formed by Patria Finavitec Oy, Patria Finavicomp Oy and Patria Ostermans AB. Helikopter Service AS is a helicopter company with a fleet of 30 helicopters, training and workshop facilities, and 700 staff. The main activities are pilot and engineer training, repair and overhaul of airframes and components, integrated logistic support and offshore helicopter support to the Norwegian oil and gas industry. HS serves customers in 35 countries. Helikopter Service is a company in CHC Helicopter Corporation, headquartered in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. CHC is the largest provider of helicopter transportation services in the world, with a combined fleet of 350 light, medium and heavy aircraft operating in 21 countries with approximately 2,800 employees world-wide. ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/05/09/20000509BIT00350/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/05/09/20000509BIT00350/bit0002.pdf