Airbus delivers the first two H145 helicopters to the Bavarian Police
Bavarian Police are transitioning from their H135 fleet onto eight new H145s
Airbus has delivered the first two of eight five-bladed H145s to the Bavarian Police. These first two helicopters will be used for training their pilots and crews, ensuring a smooth transition from the current H135 fleet to the larger helicopters for when the fully-equipped aircraft enter service.
Delivery of the first fully-equipped H145 police helicopter is scheduled for delivery in mid-2024.
The fully-equipped H145s will feature a state of the art computer system with tactical police mission software, operated by a foldable flat-screen mission command station for an operator in the cabin and a stowable monitor for the copilot. The crew will be aided by modern lighting and leading-edge camera solutions, offering better situational awareness of the helicopter’s surroundings and events on the ground. The overall communication is facilitated by customer-specific radio and data transfer. A next-generation hoist and the capability to transport external loads will further enhance police mission capabilities as well as allowing for firefighting duties. Additional features, such as illuminated blade tips, will improve the safety on board during essential police operations.
"We would like to thank Bavaria and its police force for their continued confidence in our helicopters," said Stefan Thomé, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Germany. "We are proud to equip the Bavarian police with the most advanced helicopters available for law enforcement missions, supporting them in keeping our communities safe."
Franz Muschick, Head of the Bavarian Police Helicopter Squadron, added: “Our police forces have to deal with a wide range of scenarios: searching for missing persons, transporting special units, fighting forest fires or dealing with natural disasters. The H145, with its outstanding performance and mission capabilities, will provide our police forces with an essential tool to fulfill these diverse missions.”
In the UK, Devon and Cornwall Police are updating their capabilities with drones on ‘high harm’ routes.
Jon Adams
Jon is the Editor of AirMed&Rescue. He was previously Editor for Clinical Medicine and Future Healthcare Journal at the Royal College of Physicians before coming to AirMed&Rescue in November 2022. His favorite helicopter is the Army Air Corps Lynx that he saw his father fly while growing up on Army bases.