The Slovenian interior ministry has acquired an EC135 - the 600th built at Eurocopter's German production facility in Donauwoerth. Vojko Robnik, head of the Slovenian police air support unit, says the EC135 will help the police meet the demands of "a new era in mission respon-sibilities for border surveillance."

He adds: "The new helicopter is a designated EC135 P2i with increased payload, meaning it has a maximum take-off weight of 2,910 kilogrammes and a take-off power of twice 690 hp as well as improved performance at high altitude and high temperatures."

Robnik says the EC135, which is fitted with searchlights, is capable of night flight operation and is single pilot IFR compatible. He adds: "It is powered by two turbine engines making it as fast as 287 kph and giving it an average range of 750 kilometres. Other assets of the EC135 are its bearingless main rotor and shrouded fenestron tail rotor."

The tail rotor, says Markus Steinke, vp of the EC135 programme, decisively reduces noise level and vibrations during operations and he claims the external noise level is seven db below ICAO limits.

Eurocopter's president and ceo Dr. Lutz Bertling attended the official handover of the EC135 P2i to Vojko Robnik.

Olivier Michalon, Eurocopter vp sales and customer relations, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, says: "EC135 sales are benefiting from modernisation plans in the para-public sector of new EU member countries such as the Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary and Lithuania. The EC135 is also quickly gaining ground in the corporate and vip market in eastern Europe with sales in countries including Poland, Romania, Ukraine and Russia."