Brazil drops plan to build AgustaWestland helicopter
SAO JOSE DOS CAMPOS, Brazil, April 24 2013
Brazilian aviation major Embraer has dropped plans to build a new helicopter range with Italy's AgustaWestland as a joint venture partner.
A statement said the two companies jointly decided to terminate negotiations on the project which was agreed in January.
Neither side gave an immediate explanation for the talks' collapse. Embraer didn't say the end of a potential deal with AgustaWestland meant it would shelve plans to build new helicopters with any other partner.
AgustaWestland apparently was hoping to use the joint venture as entry into Brazil's lucrative oil and gas market for its AW139 and AW189 medium twins, Aviation Online said.
Rival Helibras, Eurocopter's Brazilian subsidiary, has delivered more than 500 helicopters in Brazil since 1978.
Brazil drops plan to build new helicopter with AgustaWestland - UPI.com