Texas DPS orders two helicopters from American Eurocopter
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| Photo courtesy American Eurocopter |
American Eurocopter, the Grand Prairie based helicopter manufacturer, announced Monday that the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has ordered two AS350 B3helicopters to add to its fleet of fourteen helicopters.
“The Texas DPS is a valued customer and an important asset for the protection and service of citizens throughout our state,” said Marc Paganini, American Eurocopter President and CEO. “As their missions change and operational requirements evolve, the AS350 B3 will provide them with the power and the flexibility to meet their needs and the needs of the state.”
“We perform a variety of missions throughout the state and we are incorporating new equipment to help us meet the growing demands of our missions,” said Bill Nabors, Texas DPS Chief Pilot. He explains that mission requirements are also changing. “The role of the modern police helicopter is changing and our helicopters are tasked to do more and more,” adds Nabors. “The AS350 B3 gives us more useful load, added performance in higher density altitudes, and the option for hoist capabilities.”
The AS350 Astar family has become the platform of choice for the law enforcement community with unparalleled visibility and proven law enforcement integration. The AS350 B3 is a powerful and reliable aircraft that provides unmatched performance, the flexibility for extensive mission equipment options and the added safety of its multiple-redundancy system design.
“We started the DPS fleet replacement over six years ago and we are extremely proud that they continue to fly and select our helicopters,” said Larry Roberts, Vice-President of Sales, Marketing and Customer support. “We look forward to continuing to work with the DPS in support of their efforts and extending our services to other agencies in Texas.”
The Texas DPS is a long-time operator of AS350 AStars, the first of which entered into service in 1984. These helicopters form the bulk of the fleet that supports the department from the air in its mission to provide public safety services to the people in the state of Texas.
