Prague’s interior ministry signs 11-aircraft deal to modernise police aviation fleet.
Airbus Helicopters has secured a contract to equip the Czech Police Aviation Service with 11 H145 medium-twins.
Announced on 27 May, the deal with the Czech Ministry of Interior represents “a significant milestone in the modernisation of the Czech Republic’s public safety infrastructure”, the rotorcraft manufacturer says.
The H145s will be employed for law enforcement, search and rescue, and emergency medical duties, Airbus Helicopters says.
Noting that the Czech police currently operate nine smaller H135-family helicopters, Thomas Hein, the company’s head of Europe region, says: “Transitioning to the H145 is the logical next step in their fleet’s evolution, allowing crews and maintenance teams to benefit from a high degree of commonality and ensure seamless operational readiness from day one.”
The airframer adds that the new model – which features a five-bladed main rotor – “will significantly enhance their tactical range and lifting capacity, while streamlining maintenance through advanced digital systems”.
In addition to the rotorcraft, the company also will provide “an extensive training and logistics package” under the deal.
Data from aviation analytics company Cirium shows that the Czech police’s current rotorcraft inventory includes one six-year-old H135, and eight earlier-model examples aged between 17 and 22 years. It also has six Bell 412 EPs in use.
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