Botswana launches Police Airwing with three Eurocopter AS350 B3 Helicopters

The Botswana Police Service, represented by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Thebeyame E. Tsimako, and Eurocopter Southern Africa Pty. Ltd, signed a contract in Gaborone on September 13 for the purchase of three Eurocopter AS350 B3 helicopters to serve its newly-formed Police Air Support . Two of the aircraft will be delivered in December 2008, and the remaining one in August 2009.

Guy Joannes, CEO of Eurocopter Southern Africa, stated, “We are extremely proud of the confidence placed in our company and our product to get Botswana’s newly-established Police Air Support airborne. The AS350 B3 has a proven track record in police missions, especially in hot and high conditions. Eurocopter can back it up with a wealth of experience, being the world’s leading supplier of helicopters for law enforcement and homeland security operations.” They will be equipped with FLIR (Forward-Looking Infrared), Spectrolab SX 16 night sun, rescue hoist, cargo swing and external loud hailers for their specific role and are to become a key element in the Botswana Police’s crime-fighting missions. With the Botswana Police Air Support starting from scratch, Eurocopter Southern Africa will also provide the type rating training for six pilots and the training of three mechanics.

The AS350 B3, Eurocopter’s top-performing single-engined light helicopter, is a strong favourite with Southern African operators. For instance, the South African Police Air Support operates a total of twelve AS350 B3s and one B2. The neighbouring country, Namibia, is also launching its new Police Air Support with an AS350 B3, for which the contract was signed on August 23, 2007.

The reason behind this success is due to the fact that in comparison with its competitors, the AS350 B3 offers operators greater power, more payload within a wider temperature/altitude envelope, increased sling load capacity (1400 kg at low altitude) and greater cruising speed at maximum weight (140 Kts for a VNE of 155 Kts). It has a maximum take-off weight of 2,250 kg, and 2,800 kg with external load.

The strong points of the AS350 B3 are its powerful engine - a Turboméca Arriel 2B1 turboshaft engine with electronic control system - and its modernized instrument panel with a dual color screen - the VEMD (Vehicle and Engine Multifunction Display) - displaying the main helicopter and engine parameters.

The Arriel 2B1 turboshaft engine generates a takeoff power of 847 shp (632 kW). The electronic control system offers it advantages such as the automatic starting sequence and the optimization of performances depending on the external conditions. The most up-to-date technology with single-crystal turbine blades and a single stage give the Arriel 2B exceptional reliability and simplified maintenance.

With symbology similar to traditional indicators, the VEMD shows the main engine and vehicle parameters, as well as a First Limitation Indication (FLI). The synthetic display of the information on screen, rounded off with a first limitation audio warning, considerably eases the pilot's work load allowing him or her to concentrate on the mission. This also offers a major safety factor, above all when working with an external load.

Eurocopter Southern Africa Pty. Ltd. was formed in 1994. It has its headquarters at Lanseria International Airport as well as service centers in Cape Town and Durban. Its ties with South Africa date back into the late 1970s and it became part of the Eurocopter Group in 1992. Eurocopter Southern Africa serves a fleet of more than 230 helicopters.

Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a Division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defence and related services. The Eurocopter Group employs approx. 14,000 people. In 2006, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s No. 1 helicopter manufacturer with a turnover of 3.8 billion euros, orders for 615 new helicopters, and a 52% percent market share in the civil and parapublic sectors. Overall, the Group’s products account for 30% percent of the total world helicopter fleet. Its strong worldwide presence is ensured by its 17 subsidiaries on five continents, along with a dense network of distributors, certified agents and maintenance centres. More than 9,800 Eurocopter helicopters are currently in service with over 2,800 customers in 140 countries. Eurocopter offers the largest civil and military helicopter range in the world.

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