Two More Helos Will Join The Force Over The Next Two Years
American Eurocopter delivered
another AS350B3 helicopter to the Miami-Dade Police Department's
(MDPD) Aviation Unit Thursday. This is the second of four AS350B3s
that have been ordered. The aircraft will join the department's
Special Patrol Bureau's Aviation Unit that includes a fleet of
rotary and fixed wing aircraft. The first AS350B3 was delivered
last December and the MDPD will continue to receive helicopters at
a rate of one a year over the next two years.
The MDPD Aviation Unit chose the AS350B3 as the aircraft to
rejuvenate the MDPD fleet and to meet the expanding mission scope
and security needs of Miami-Dade county and the south Florida
region.
"The AS350B3 has given us the power, reliability and
flexibility to meet our evolving mission platform," said Sergeant
Tom Turpin, pilot with the Special Patrol Bureau's Aviation Unit.
"With its advanced technology and adaptability, this helicopter
delivers the capabilities we need to patrol our area and meet the
security needs of our region."
As with many airborne law enforcement organizations throughout
the country, the mission platform of the MDPD Aviation Unit has
evolved to support additional initiatives. In the Miami-Dade county
and surrounding region, these include Homeland Security initiatives
as well as port security and coverage for key county
infrastructures.
The AS350B3 is powered by a 847 shp Turbomeca Arriel 2B1
engine. The AS350 family serves 75 police agencies across the
nation, including major federal operators such as the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
and the Department of Justice (DOJ).
"Our first AS350B3 has proven itself to be an indispensable part
of our fleet and we are looking forward to working this second
aircraft into our mission schedule," continued Turpin.
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ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (12.03.25)
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