Law Enforcement, Tactical Operations, Patrol, and SAR Missions
All In The Aircraft's Toolkit
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Aircraft Section has
taken delivery of two AS350 B3 helicopters from American
Eurocopter. These are the first AS350 B3's in the Aircraft
Section's all-Eurocopter fleet, which includes 13 Eurocopter
AS350-series AStar helicopters and one EC145. The new AS350 B3's
provide increased power and performance and build on the proven
reliability and capabilities of its AStar fleet.
Texas DPS AS350 B3
"The selection of the AS350 B3's highlights Texas DPS's
confidence in American Eurocopter and the AStar family," said Ed
Van Winkle, American Eurocopter's Law Enforcement Market Manager.
"The AS350 B3's will provide the Aircraft Section with increased
capabilities in order to better-serve the citizens of Texas and we
are honored that they continue to choose our helicopters as they
update and augment their fleet."
In addition to law enforcement and patrol missions, the mission
scope of Texas DPS now includes search and rescue, tactical
operations and homeland security missions throughout the state. The
AS350 B3's will give Texas DPS additional payload, range and
endurance to enhance their capacity to respond to these vital
missions.
"The role of helicopters in support of modern law enforcement is
evolving," explained Bill Nabors, Texas DPS Chief Pilot. "In
serving the citizens of Texas, the scope of our missions is
changing and we needed to select helicopters that will help us meet
current and future mission requirements. The AS350 B3's will enable
us to adapt to the variety of missions and changing environments
across the state."
The mission equipment suite on the new AS350 B3's includes a
thermal imager, searchlight and moving map system. Texas DPS added
the capability of a 500 lb. rescue hoist, which will aid in search
& rescue operations. The avionics integration and completion
were performed by Metro Aviation, which is also an American
Eurocopter customer.
One of the new AS350 B3's, a replacement for an AS350 BA, will
be stationed in Alpine, Texas, an area where missions will benefit
from the hot & high performance capabilities of the Arriel 2B1
engine. The second AS350 B3 will be stationed at a new base located
in Longview, Texas. This additional helicopter was promoted and
supported by the citizens of Longview and Gregg County and will
improve mission capabilities and enhance the level of service to
the citizens of East Texas.