Tex Air Boosts Eurocopters

Ed Behne, president/CEO and owner of Tex Air Helicopters, looked up from the contract he had just signed and said, "I guess this means I am deeper in debt."

On Monday, Behne signed a $15 million contract for 13 Eurocopter helicopters. The order included seven EC120 Colibris, two AS350B2s and four AS350BA AStars. Deliveries begin immediately and conclude before 2001.

The helicopters will expand Tex Air's fleet of 17 Eurocopters Behne estimates is currently flying 1,600 hours per month. With the order, Tex Air becomes the largest operator of single-engine Eurocopters. Tex Air also will become the first operator to use the EC120 in offshore operations.

Asked why he chose the Eurocopter, Behne replied, "Simple. More payload, more speed, lower operating costs."

Behne formed Tex Air 10 years ago to provide executive transportation to offshore operations.