American Eurocopter president and CEO Marc Paganini recognized aerial tour-operator Maverick Helicopters for logging 60,000 hours on its fleet of 27 EC 130s, the largest in the world.

During a ceremony yesterday afternoon at Heli-Expo Booth No. 631, Greg Rochna, CEO of Maverick Aviation Group, accepted Maverick’s 28th copy of the EC 130. Paganini said the EC 130 is an aircraft designed for and with the tour operators in mind.

Maverick conducted aerial tours of Nevada with the model, which it calls “EcoStars,” since flying its first EC 130 in July of 2003. “We are never limited by the engine, even on the hottest summer day,” said John Mandernach, Maverick’s v-p of maintenance. He described the EC 130 as one of the most comfortable helicopters he had ever flown as well as the most powerful, while calling its operation one of the quietest in its class.