The OHSP Will Take Delivery Of Its New H125 At Airbus Helicopters Inc. Later This Year.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) has ordered the first H125 AStar produced on the new final assembly line at the Airbus Helicopter’s production facility in Columbus, MS. The H125, locally known as the “AStar,” is now built in the United States by American workers.

Airbus Helicopters Inc. recognized the Ohio State Highway Patrol at a brief ceremony at the Airborne Law Enforcement Association ALEA Expo 2015 in Houston, Texas on Friday, July 17.

Ohio State Highway Patrol currently operates two AS350 B2 AStars to conduct a wide variety of law enforcement missions including patrol, aerial searches with thermal imagers, photo missions and marijuana eradication. The highway patrol has been operating AStars for more than 20 years to protect and serve the citizens of Ohio.

Airbus Helicopters Inc. had partially assembled AS350B2 and AS350B3 AStar helicopters in Columbus since 2005. Production of the H125 (formerly AS350 B3e) on the full final assembly line began in late 2014. The OSHP aircraft is the first H125 produced from the Columbus assembly line and certified by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Captain Randy Boggs of the Ohio State Highway Patrol Aviation Section said, “Our new H125 will give us increased power and useful load, along with additional safety features. We are looking forward to placing our new helicopter into service later this year.”

“It is exciting that the first Made in America H125 will be delivered to the Ohio State Highway Patrol,” said Christopher Emerson, President of Airbus Helicopters Inc. “Law enforcement and government operators will value that the H125 is made in the USA, and it is important that the first ship goes to a long time AStar operator such as the OSHP. Now that we are producing helicopters on the Columbus final assembly line, Airbus Helicopters Inc. will provide better support and service to customers both before and after delivery.”

Airbus Helicopters says the AStar is the top selling helicopter in the market. More than 220 are now in operation with U.S. law enforcement agencies, including more than 75 delivered in the last five years.

(Image of H125 with Capt. Randy Boggs, left, Ohio State Highway Patrol, and Ed Van Winkle, Law Enforcement Sales Manager for Airbus Helicopters Inc. provided by Airbus.)

FMI: www.airbusgroup.com