The US Coast Guard has firmed up options to lease four more Agusta A109C Power armed helicopters for intercepting high-speed drug smuggling boats. The USCG has just taken delivery of the first two helicopters, which it has designated MH-68As, and the remaining machines will be received by October 2001.
Source: Flight International
Japan’s National Police Agency has taken delivery of a pair of Airbus Helicopters H160 medium twins, becoming the type’s first parapublic operator in Japan.
CHC Helikopter Service is to deploy six helicopters – including three on-order Leonardo AW189s – to support a new offshore contract with Aker BP in Norway.
Leonardo is facing a £2.15 billion ($2.63 billion) damages claim from the family of King Power Group founder and chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha who was killed alongside four others when his AW169 helicopter crashed in the UK shortly after take-off due to a tail rotor failure.
