MD Helicopters awarded US state municipality contract

The agency is responsible for monitoring the state’s valuable natural resources, wildlife populations, and ecosystems while ensuring enforcement of the state’s laws protecting them. The aircraft is the agency’s first helicopter.

“This has been a great opportunity for MD Helicopters to provide the ideal platform for a state agency with such a vast mission profile,” said Marc Brodeur, Vice-President of Military and Commercial Sales for MD Helicopters. “The MD 530F is a powerful, reliable tool that delivers superior operational efficiency at sea level and altitude while providing the mission versatility required to do the job. We look forward to developing and expanding this new relationship for many years to come.”

The MD 530F will perform a variety of functions for the agency that balances monitoring and protecting millions of acres of vastly diverse ecosystems and countless wildlife across topography that ranges from sea level to glacier-peaked mountain ranges. Missions will include wildlife monitoring, wildlife tagging, and scientific observations, as well as law enforcement missions such as search and apprehension of poachers, illegal hunting and harvesting, and other unlawful activity. It also has the potential to assist in search and rescue missions.

Configuration for the Contract

In addition to its powerful Rolls-Royce 250-C30 650shp turbine engine, extended landing gear, Fargo 2-gallon auxiliary fuel tank and wire strike protection system, the MD 530F has been custom configured to include:

•          High-contrast main rotor blades

•          Onboard Human External Load Cargo Dual Hook

•          Cobham RT 7000 Radio

•          Garmin GTR 225B NVG, Transceiver, 16W, 8.33kHz

•          Flightcell DZMx DZUS with Satellite and 3G Cellular capability

•          Becker DVCS ACU6100-2-5300 Digital Audio Panel

•          Tyler TSOP System

Delivery of the new MD 530F will occur within 12 months of the award date.