Popular Aircraft Among Law Enforcement Agencies In The U.S.

American Eurocopter will feature an EC135 T2e from the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing at the 2013 International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference, Oct. 19-23 in Philadelphia.

With more than 25,000 flight hours in Eurocopter aircraft, Massachusetts State Police Air Wing officials say they selected the EC135, because of the maneuverability and technological advancements that contribute to multi-mission capabilities, endurance and reliability. The Air Wing has now ordered four EC135s.
 
“The Air Wing section is one of the Commonwealth’s most versatile assets and responds to more than 1,900 mission requests annually across the state,” said Lt. Rob Smith, Officer in Charge of the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing. “We have flown Eurocopter aircraft since 1987, which have assisted us in making hundreds of arrests over the years, as well as finding lost or wanted persons including the Boston Marathon bombing suspect in April of this year.”
 
With its shrouded Fenestron tail rotor system, the EC135 is extremely quiet, making it popular with operators that regularly fly over densely populated areas. The EC135 features an energy-absorbing fuselage and seats and crash-resistant fuel cells. It has a fast cruise speed of 137 knots, and accommodates a pilot plus six to seven passengers for transport missions.
 
“The EC135 is a powerful, lightweight, twin-engine helicopter with low operating costs,” said Ed Van Winkle, American Eurocopter’s Sales Manager for Airborne Law Enforcement. “The aircraft delivers outstanding maneuverability at a whisper, while carrying larger payloads over longer distances than any aircraft in its class. Law Enforcement operators cite reliability, versatility and cost effectiveness as key factors in selecting Eurocopter helicopters to conduct a wide variety of missions. Currently we have more than 280 Eurocopter aircraft operated by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.”
 
Eurocopter’s AS350-series aircraft are also a staple of Airborne Law Enforcement, including the AS350 B3e AStar, the most popular law enforcement model. There are more than 200 AS350s in use with U.S. law enforcement, more than any other helicopter model.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.eurocopterusa.com