A Swiss company’s plans to manufacture helicopters in Lafayette is still on, despite the firm’s acquisition by an Italian competitor, The Daily Advertiser reports.
Executives from Swiss helicopter company Kopter tell the newspaper the company is still on track for operations in Lafayette beginning in 2021 and hiring a full workforce by 2025.
The company was acquired last week by the Italian Leonardo Company, which operates a helicopter support center in Broussard. Company officials say Kopter will remain its own autonomous legal entity under Leonardo, The Daily Advertiser reports.
Kopter COO Jan Nowacki told the newspaper during a visit last week that the company is still working to get approval on the design of the new SH09 from some government agencies, but they are looking forward to beginning work in Acadiana.
