San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in California has strengthened its public safety capabilities with the acquisition of two new Airbus Helicopters H125 AStars, the best-selling law enforcement helicopter in the country.
Airbus Helicopters is exhibiting one of San Bernardino’s H125s at the 2017 Airborne Law Enforcement Association (ALEA) Annual Conference and Expo this week in Reno, Nevada.
The new aircraft are part of a long-term plan to update San Bernardino’s fleet of six AS350 B3 helicopters, an earlier model of the AStar.
“The H125 offers the versatile, multi-mission platform we need,” San Bernardino Sheriff’s Capt. Jeff Rose said.
“This was the right choice for us.”
“We are excited to continue our long relationship with Airbus Helicopters.”
San Bernardino will use the helicopters for patrol, high-altitude rescues and fire suppression.
With more than 20,100 square miles, San Bernardino County is the largest county in the United States, and the department flies about 22,000 hours each year.
(See the CHP Airbus H125s (N978HP) taking off for a call and later landing at Auburn Municipal Airport (KAUN). The footage was shot at the CHP pad in the middle of an airshow. Courtesy of Lian Media and YouTube)
“The H125 is the single most popular law enforcement helicopter in the United States. It accounts for more than one-third of deliveries over the past decade,” said Treg Manning, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Airbus Helicopters Inc.
“More than 220 H125/AS350s are in use across the United States with 54 different law enforcement agencies.”
Public safety agencies tout the H125 for its performance, reliability and versatility, and it is renowned for its superior hot and high performance.
Built in Columbus, Miss., the single-engine H125 is powered by a Turbomeca Arriel 2D engine that delivers a higher cruise speed than its predecessor and is equipped with a new dual-channel FADEC and Engine Data Recorder, which enhance the systems management.
The aircraft is capable of carrying a wide range of thermal imagers, searchlights, hoists and mission gear.
Airbus contributes nearly $17 billion to the U.S. economy annually and supports more than 264,000 American jobs through its network of suppliers.
In addition to corporate offices, engineering centers, training facilities, MROs and spare parts distribution centers, Airbus has manufacturing facilities producing commercial aircraft, helicopters and satellites throughout the U.S.
