Police Aviation News November 2010

Police Aviation News November 2010 27
both the PAvCon 2010 and Farnborough Air Show special editions. The type was the subject
of presentation at the PAvCon 2010 in the Czech Republic.
ChelAvia’s strategic vision is to deploy a number of TECNAM MMA’s on a diverse range of
ISR missions including police, border patrol, drug enforcement and urban surveillance.
The company was attracted to the low operating costs, an ability to refuel AVGAS or car
gasoline in any blend in combination with the size and the flexibility of the cabin in order to
carry a variety of sensor equipment. The high wing configuration and the reliable, quiet and
low maintenance Rotax 912S engines are also an important attraction.
North American Surveillance Systems Inc., (NASS) has been awarded the AS9100 certification,
the aerospace industry’s highest standard for quality management systems.
AS9100 is a single quality standard used across the global aerospace community. It is
based on ISO 9001 but adds stringent additional requirements necessary to address
critical civil and military aviation and aerospace needs.
For more information about NASS products and services visit www.nassusa.net
Hélidax the operator in a public-private partnership
set up to provide the French armed
forces with a modern and cost-effective training
helicopter received its 36 th and final
EC120 from Eurocopter last month.
Hélidax is equally owned by its founders DCI
and INAER France (formerly Proteus). On
January 31, 2008, the DGA (French government
procurement agency) awarded Hélidax
a contract for 16,000 to 26,000 flight hours a
year to provide ab initio helicopter pilot training
to all three branches of the French armed
forces and the Gendarmerie. The training will
take place at the French Army Air Corp's
training school (EALAT) in Dax. As part of the
innovative partnership agreement, Hélidax is
responsible for the financing, operation and maintenance of the helicopters, and retains full
ownership. The training work itself, however, will continue to be provided by the military instructors
at EALAT.
The French Army opted for the EC120, and the first three helicopters were delivered to Dax
in October 2009. Within just twelve months, all 36 helicopters were delivered and have progressively
been replacing the 54 SA341 and SA342 Gazelles previously used for training.
With a training staff of 80 and a fleet of 36 EC120s, the EALAT in Dax is now the largest
helicopter training academy in Europe. Instructors and trainees from Belgium also serve at
the school year round, making it a truly multinational institution.
Eurocopter has delivered more than 650 EC120s to date, and many of the world's air forces
have placed their confidence in the helicopter. Its compact size, low costs, excellent flight
quality and simple piloting capabilities have made it a popular choice for training missions.
The fleet currently in service logs more than 150,000 flight hours every year.
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