“We received a third EC145 on the 3rd of March and we are entirely satisfied with it. The machine was delivered ahead of the scheduled date in the contract, which will make our preparation work much easier for the World Cup Soccer Tournament. Our three EC145s provide support to personnel out in the field, whether it be for search missions for missing persons or criminals, environmental protection, air space patrols, or road traffic surveillance. We of course also use the helicopters to transport Special Forces and members of our regional government.

Our first two EC145s have already totaled more than 2,000 flight hours. We really appreciate the cutting-edge technology in the machines – the ultramodern glass cockpit, autopilot, and IFR equipment – and their excellent reliability, multi-function capabilities, and cabin room (twelve people, including flight crew). The helicopters are also equipped with a winch, a sling, a FLIR(1) and night vision goggles (NVG). The EC145 can be switched into NVG mode just by pressing a single button.

Recently, we performed a night flight with an outside temperature of –10°C to save the life of the pilot of an ultra-light motorized aircraft who was severely injured when he crashed in a quarry. Access to the quarry was very difficult. While one of our helicopters lit up the terrain, the other one winched out the injured pilot. Another advantage of the EC145 is that, for both day and night flights, we can transmit images taken with analog or digital cameras installed on the helicopters. We can also be on the scene very quickly when fires or natural catastrophes occur.

Eurocopter has also developed energy-absorbing anti-crash seat that meet with military standards, which have been used on our machines since the month of April. The cabin, which can hold up to nine of these seats, can be arranged in different configurations depending on the mission. For example, for the World Cup Soccer Tournament in June, we'll be using the seats to transport police units and to perform other missions.

Eurocopter proved to be extremely attentive to our needs when the mission equipment packages had to be adapted to our specific tactical requirements. And the service they have provided has also been first rate.”