More Airbus Helis for Japan’s National Police Agency

TOKYO:  Japan’s National Police Agency (NPA) has ordered one new H225 and four H135 helicopters as part of its fleet modernisation programme,

With the new order, the number of Airbus Helicopters’ rotorcraft in police service will be increased to 30. The Agency is currently operating 12 H135, four H155 and six AS365 Dauphin helicopters. Meanwhile, one H215 and two H225 are already on order.

The growing fleet of aircraft will support the agency’s various missions including law enforcement, personnel and VIP transport, goods transportation, disaster relief, as well as wide area support. according to an Airbus Helicopters statement.

“Airbus Helicopters treasures the opportunity to support Japan’s wide-ranging law enforcement missions for more than 30 years with our light twin, medium and heavy-lift helicopters. We thank NPA for its continued trust built over the years, and welcome the agency as a new customer for our Super Puma helicopters. With an enlarged fleet not just in numbers, but also in range and capacity, we are fully confident that the new helicopters will be a timely addition, reinforcing the agency’s operations,” said Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters Japan, Guillaume Leprince.

Offering the industry’s best range, speed, payload and reliability in an 11-ton-category twin-turbine rotorcraft, the H225 is the latest member of Airbus Helicopters’ Super Puma family. In Japan alone, a total of 28 helicopters from the Super Puma family are currently flown by civil, parapublic operators, and Japan’s Ministry of Defence for various missions.

In Japan, H135 operators benefit from the training support offered by Airbus Helicopters’ Kobe-based H135 full flight simulator centre. There are currently 94 H135 helicopters operating in Japan today. –adj/mgm