Operating in just this market in Africa and undeveloped Far East.
Eurocopter service diabolical - three months just to order a new Squirrel battery (not delivery, that's just to order) !
Also, good luck getting anything out of Turbomeca right now as they resupply the US coastguard with a new engine batch...
However Bell service just as bad, especially from NAC maintenance who are far more interested in Henley Air than their own customers, including it appears, their own charter division !
Sales - always good by both, NAC kiss arse like noone else but although Eurocopter promises sound good, delivery is lacking - still too French : 'you are lucky to 'ave our 'elicopter; you think we should be nice to you as well ? Va te faire...!'
Service - maintenance reliability eg. finished when it's supposed to be, and parts delivery better from Bell however blades are an issue and NAC screw up the system;
After-Sales - if they actually phone you back and try to help you, Eurocopter then rips you off and take months to deliver. We order direct from holders in US to avoid EC.
Spares Back Up - see above
Can they produce ? - DESPITE EC being terrible, we just switched over to almost all EC fleet on 120 (which I do NOT think is nice to fly - twitchy and uncomfortable, especially at speed), AS350s and will go larger shortly; replacing 407s which don't like sleeping outside.
General comments - If you had to buy your Toyota parts by mail order from the US, would you still buy a Toyota or accept an almost at good Nissan but maybe get let down in the future ?
We've gone Eurocopter despite rather than because of local support, after equally dodgy local support from Bell.