POLICE ORDER
Eurocopter has clinched a contract with the French police for the acquisition of 37 EC135s. The deal, which covers 12 orders and 25 options for the light twin-turbine helicopter, is valued at €233 million ($300 million). The aircraft will be used for police missions and will replace the single-engined Ecureuil B series operated since 1980. First deliveries are scheduled for the last quarter of 2008. The police also confirmed an option for three EC145s, bringing this fleet to 15 aircraft. The EC145s will replace Alouette IIIs in service.
LONGER CONTRACT
Australia's National Air Support (NAS) has been awarded a three-year, multi-million dollar contract extension to operate and maintain Tenix's Laser Airborne Depth Sounder (LADS) Bombardier Dash 8s. The turboprop is used to survey shallow, complex coastal waters worldwide. The LADS MkII system uses a laser firing through a panel in the aircraft floor to collect accurate sea depth measurements used for charting, Exclusive Economic Zone delimitation, oil and gas exploration, coastal zone, beach and coral reef management and strategic defence applications. The system is considered the fastest and most cost-effective way to accurately survey the sea floor in coastal waters up to 70m (230ft) deep, says NAS.
Source: Flight International
