When Airbus Helicopters CEO Romain Trapp and his team opened the company’s assembly plant in 2003 next to the Golden Triangle Regional Airport, he had high hopes for the future.
In just 20 years, Airbus has expanded the plant to hire more than 300 employees, and went from producing around five helicopters per year to more than 100 for customers around the United States.
“It was still a dream (in 2003),” Trapp said Friday during a 20th anniversary celebration at the plant. “We are very happy with what we have achieved. We believe the success we have comes also from having found Mississippi as a great place to do business.”
Trapp, joined by other company and government representatives, spoke to more than 350 people Friday about the company’s success in Lowndes County.
“Here in Mississippi, we bring (Airbus’s) purpose to life by building and supporting helicopters that enable our customers to perform essential missions, such as serving and protecting people and communities,” Trapp told those in attendance.
The company, previously known as American Eurocopter, located its AS-350 helicopter assembly plant on 85,000 square feet next to GTRA. At the time, the plant featured one hanger and a partially complete production facility.
Within a year, the company had finished its production house and by 2006, secured a contract with the U.S. Army to produce its famous Lakota UH-72A light utility helicopters. As a result, the company built a new hanger and expanded its production line, Trapp said.
The plant expanded again in 2014 and 2019 when Airbus secured contracts with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and a medical helicopter company, Metro Aviation, bringing the total square footage to 331,000.
Scott Tumpak, vice president of military programs, said the company has also placed a Mississippi state flag-themed helicopter at the front gate to commemorate Airbus’s commitment to Mississippi.
“We are really proud to commemorate our past, present and future here and to have that aircraft currently displayed outside,” he said.
Vice President of Industry and Civil Programs Johannes Dienemann said the plant will continue its growth by producing even more products, such as the newly approved H-160 helicopter. That craft will be used for private industries such as emergency services, oil and gas and law enforcement, he said.
“I think (the H-160) is going to be significantly important for the future here because it requires a lot of customization work, and it suits our private aviation customers’ needs. … We’re going to build more commercial aircraft here,” Dienemann said. “So, the growth will happen in a lot of different directions.”
U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) told those in attendance that Airbus has been an instrumental partner to the U.S. Army and to several other American companies. He hopes to continue supporting that partnership.
“Our friends from Airbus, and their leadership of so many people in this room and those who are not able to be with us now, have performed something worthy to be remembered,” Wicker said.
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