New Units To Replace Aging AS355 N Squirrels

Three new Eurocopter EC145 helicopters were officially introduced into service with the Metropolitan Police Air Support Unit Wednesday at its base in Lippitts Hill, Loughton, Essex.

Fitted with the latest equipment, the EC145 will mark a new era in Police Air Support in the United Kingdom, according to Eurocopter.

The three AS355 N "Squirrel" helicopters the Metropolitan Police have been operating since 1993 will be replaced by the new EC145s.

The EC145 is the company's latest entry into the light twin-engine helicopter market. The platform is designed with multi-mission capability in mind and is powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 1E2 engines. The helo is capable of carrying one or two pilots and eight or nine passengers.

With a cruise speed of 135 kts, an advanced night vision goggle compatible glass
cockpit, digital autopilot for both single or dual pilot applications and an endurance of up to 3.5 hours, the EC145 is ideally suited for police work.

The primary role of the new EC145s will be surveillance, but with the flexibility of its cabin and its payload/range performance with the role-adaptable mission systems, the department will be able use them for a variety of applications.

Technology-wise, the new units will have an advanced police communication suite, a Wescam MX-15 Electro Optic sensor, a SkyQuest touch screen video management system and a Gigawave digital video link that will enable officers to use them in incident command situations.

But, even when with all the bells and whistles, there is still room for three more officers or two police dog cages. The rear observer's workstation can be removed in fifteen minutes to provide space for up to six additional officers in the main cabin.

Even in this utility configuration, the forward police observer, seated in the co-pilot's position, still maintains control of the entire mission sensor suite and the rear cabin team has full access to all tactical radios and a fold down screen to view any of the available infra-red or TV imagery.

FMI: www.met.police.uk, www.eurocopter.com