The Phoenix Police Department, in the state of Arizona, signed a new order with Airbus to upgrade its fleet by incorporating five new H125 units, which will be delivered starting next year.
According to a statement issued by Airbus, the aircraft perfectly fits the needs of local authorities and they highlight its «power, versatility and excellent performance in hot and high conditions (…) The H125 features a dual hydraulic system, dual-channel FADEC and a crash-resistant fuel system».
The H125, which represents nearly half of all single-engine intermediate helicopters delivered for tactical missions in the United States over the past decade, is built at Airbus Helicopters production and maintenance facility in Columbus, Mississippi, by a team of 40% American war veterans.
Paul Apolinar, chief pilot for the Phoenix Police Department, said the team spent «a long time analyzing which platform best fit all of our operational needs as we began to renew our fleet, and the H125 met all of the requirements,» noting that «these helicopters will allow us to not only protect from the skies, but also perform rescues in remote locations throughout Arizona. We needed an aircraft that would excel in high temperatures, and the H125 is truly the best for the job in such conditions».
According to the City of Phoenix’s official website, currently, the local police department’s air support unit has:
1 Agusta A109E
5 Eurocopter AS350B3
1 Cessna 172
1 Cessna 182
1 Cessna P210R
1 Pilatus PC-12NG
Airbus Helicopters Inc. is the leading helicopter supplier in the United States, with more than 50 years of experience. It has a team of more than 700 workers who operate the production and maintenance facilities for the H125 and Eurocopter UH-72 Lakota models. It currently has a regional fleet of nearly 3,100 helicopters in service.
