American Eurocopter, a subsidiary of European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co.‘s North America division, has received a potential $150 million contract from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to provide up to AS350 B3 single-engine helicopters over five-years. The contract has a base year and four one-year options with the initial order for 17 aircraft. CBP already has 48 AS350 aircraft. EADS says that the first helicopter will be delivered in 2009 with a target delivery schedule of one aircraft every 45 days once rate production has been achieved. “This award shows confidence in the performance and reliability of our AS350 B3 and our company,” says Marc Paganini, president and CEO of American Eurocopter. The AS350 B3 is powered by the Turbomeca Arriel 2B engine. The aircraft will be produced in Mississippi.