Bush helicopter gives British jobs a lift

HUNDREDS of jobs will be safeguarded in Britain following the award of a $1.7bn (£900m) contract to supply helicopters for the US Presidential flight.

In a contract for 23 helicopters, America opted to buy the AgustaWestland-designed US101 for Marine One, as the Presidential flight is known. The US 101 is a variant of the British designed EH101, which is already in service with the Royal Navy.

Though the bulk of the helicopter will be built in the United States by lead contractor Lockheed Martin, and AgustaWestland is now owned by FinnMeccanica of Italy, some key components - including rotorblades and transmission - will be made at the AgustaWestland site at Yeovil, Somerset.

The helicopter was chosen in preference to the Sikorsky S92, which is still in development.

Winning the presidential order will also put the team in pole position for the much larger contract to supply 200 helicopters to the US Air Force for use as combat search-and-rescue craft.

The EH101 design features three engines, has been in active service for a decade and is serving in the Arctic, the desert and has seen use in combat zones, including Bosnia and Iraq.

Tony Blair gave the US101 bid his personal backing by lobbying for the helicopter during private meetings with George W. Bush.