Press Release
Issued by Airbus Helicopters Australia Pacific.
May 26, 2010
Australian Aerospace today announced the sale of a multi-role Dauphin AS354 N3+ helicopter to the Western Australian Police Service.
The contract, worth more than $10 million, will provide a much-needed second helicopter for the state's police – the helicopter is due to be delivered in September 2011.
The AS354 N3+ is the latest version in Eurocopter's Dauphin range. It is a four tonne, medium size, twin-engine helicopter which has a range of 650km and features state-of- the-art avionics.
The helicopter can perform missions in the most severe climatic conditions at high altitudes and high temperatures. Its large power margin allows rooftop landings and takeoffs in urban areas in complete safety.
Around 650 Dauphin aircraft are operated by police, homeland security and search and rescue agencies around the world, including three being flown by the Victorian Police Service.
WA Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan says the Dauphin is a vital addition to the state's police air wing.
"Having a second helicopter will increase the capacity of WA Police to provide aerial support to frontline policing, search and rescue, counter terrorism operations and whole- of-government emergency management response" Mr O'Callaghan says.
Australian Aerospace Chief Executive Officer Dr Jens Goennemann believes the Dauphin is the ideal helicopter for the WA Police.
"The Dauphin can operate in the extreme temperatures which are common in many parts of Western Australia," he says. "It is powered by two Turbomeca ARRIEL 2C gas turbines, which mean the helicopter can take off at maximum weight at more than 50° Celsius or at more than 40° Celsius with a full load in Category A conditions at sea level."
News of the sale comes as Australian Aerospace supports a wide range of Eurocopter helicopters at the HeliPacific 2010 conference on the Gold Coast.
The number and variety of Eurocopter helicopters being showcasing at HeliPacific underscores the depth and quality of the rotary-wing products which the company both manufactures and supports in the South Pacific military and civil aviation markets. They include the latest word in basic/advanced aircrew trainers, the EC 135 - essentially the civil version of the military EC635 – which is being proposed as the new trainer for the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
Australian Aerospace Media Release Page 1 of 3"Australian Aerospace has a great deal of experience in providing customised training solutions to the Commonwealth," says Chief Executive Goennemann, "so we are well positioned and ready to build on our strategic partnership with the Commonwealth through the AIR 9000 Phase 7 program".
