Four EC135 P2is are scheduled for delivery to the Austrian interior ministry in time for the finals of Euro 2008, the UEFA European Football Championship. The four "European cup final" deliveries in March 2008 will be followed by another two in March 2009 and two more in May. All eight EC135 P2is will be used for police operations.

The ministry says the eight have been designed as light multi-purpose helicopters. "The four EC135s slated for delivery in 2009 will additionally be equipped with forward-looking infrared (FLIR) cameras and searchlights," the ministry says. But all eight helicopters have roping devices, are qualified for IFR flights, and are fitted with glass cockpits compatible with the use of night-vision goggles.

"The agreement also includes a power-by-the-hour service for a period of ten years, as well as technical support by Eurocopter for the Austrian police fleet while the EC135 will be phased in at the federal interior ministry as well as during the European Football Championship," the ministry adds. Eurocopter says about 140 EC135s are in service worldwide in law enforcement, 113 of them in Europe. It recently delivered its 600th EC135 to the Slovenian police (see EBAN October).

The Austrian ministry says attractions include the power of two turbine engines that enable the EC135 to accelerate to up to 287 km/h and fly an average distance of 750 kilometres. "It is easy to handle, is extremely manoeuvrable, and has a bearingless main rotor and shrouded fenestron tail rotor, which drastically reduce noise and vibration levels during operation." Euro 2008 venues include Bern, Basel, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Zurich, Geneva, Wien and Klagefurt.