South America-based operator Ecocopter Ecuador has taken delivery of an Airbus H145 helicopter from helicopter leasing company Milestone Aviation Group. Located at Ecocopter's base in Quito, the aircraft will be the first of its type to be based in Ecuador and will be deployed on missions across Chile and Peru.

The multi-mission H145 will carry out a wide range of activities. These include passenger onshore transport, external load transport such as the construction of road and power lines, and will support mining contracts in some of the most remote and inaccessible areas of the country. Ecocopter will also put the light twin helicopter to use on HEMS missions.

Corporate general manager Marcelo Rajchman says: “This helicopter will be the third Airbus H145 in the Ecocopter fleet but the first to be based in Ecuador. The H145 is a versatile aircraft that is well suited to the diverse environmental conditions it will face, as well as the broad range of missions on which it will be deployed. This adaptability means that it is as capable of serving the oil and gas sector as it is to supporting activities such as mining projects and the installation of power lines in hard-to-reach areas.”

Milestone commercial manager Vincent Roux adds: “Milestone Aviation has been working closely with Ecocopter for a number of years, and we are delighted to cement that partnership and support its growing operations. This placement is our first in Ecuador and further expands Milestone's presence in the South American market, serving alternative missions.”