Slated For Delivery To Police In 2009-2010
On August 27, the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior announced
its decision to purchase eight new Eurocopter EC135 P2i helicopters
for the Bavarian Police Helicopter Squadron. Fitted out with
state-of-the-art police equipment, the EC135s are slated for
delivery between September 2009 and April 2010.
The EC135’s police-specific equipment includes a FLIR
(Forward Looking Infrared) camera, a high-resolution digital day
and night vision camera, SatCOM, GPS, a digital map device, Tetra
digital radio, the FLARM® collision warning system, a tactical
direction finder, a digital flight management system and a GSM
telephone.
Suitable for operation under IFR (instrument flight rules), the
helicopters are fitted with glass cockpits approved for operations
with night vision goggles. A rescue hoist, an external load hook
system and four rescue winches are also part of the contract. The
winches can be installed on each of the eight helicopters as and
when required.
The contract signed with the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior
includes a letter of intent for power-by-the-hour service over a
period of at least 10 years.
"In view of the ever-growing demands on police work," says
interior minister Joachim Herrmann, "we are making this new
purchase to provide our police helicopter squadron with the latest
machines including customized police equipment. In the 1970s,
police helicopters were used only for traffic monitoring. Since
then, they have adopted a variety of other tasks, including crime
fighting, missing-persons searches, support in disaster relief
missions, and the handling of special traffic and mission
situations. Our police helicopter squadron is in service 24 hours a
day and requires the best equipment available to support its
work."
Dr. Wolfgang Schoder, CEO of Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH,
recalled the nearly 40-year collaboration between the company and
the police helicopter squadron. "In October 1970, our company
handed over the first BO105 to the squadron," he said. "In June
1983, Bavaria was the first federal state to commission the BK117.
From 1998 onwards, both types were gradually replaced by the first
generation of our EC135, which is built in Donauwörth,
Bavaria, just like the two previous models, and which has been
considerably improved and enhanced since that time.
"Our engineers have gained valuable experience from their work
with the Bavarian Police Helicopter Squadron and have brought it to
bear in our latest generation of helicopters," Schoder continued.
"So the squadron is now receiving the latest version of the EC135.
I am very grateful for this, and for the long-standing trust placed
in the Eurocopter company."
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