Two More Aircraft On Order From The European Planemaker

Airbus Military has delivered to Vietnam the first of three C212-400 maritime patrol aircraft ordered by the Vietnam Marine Police. The aircraft, manufactured in Seville, Spain was handed over at Gia Lam (Hanoi) at the end of a 10-day ferry flight from Skavsta, Sweden following installation of its mission system. It was formally delivered last year prior to the conversion work in Sweden.

The flight, commanded by ferry pilot Capt Alejandro Grande supported by two co-pilots, two flight engineers and a technical representative, staged through: Kosice, Slovakia; Sitia, Greece; Luxor, Egypt; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Muscat, Oman; Ahmedabad and Kolkata, India; and Chiang Mai, Thailand; en route to Hanoi.
 
The three aircraft will be used for a range of missions including coastal patrol, search and rescue, anti-pollution operations, and law enforcement against smuggling of goods or people.
 
A second aircraft is under conversion in Sweden and the third will be transferred from Seville by the end of the year. A total of 478 C212s have been ordered by operators in 42 countries worldwide.

(Arrival ceremony photo courtesy EADS)

FMI: www.airbus.com