AHI delivers helos to Philly police

Airbus Helicopters delivered a pair of AS350B2 AStar helicopters to the Philadelphia (Pa.) Police Department’s aviation unit June 26. The delivery is part of a growing list of AHI-built helicopters to American law enforcement agencies. Philadelphia police plan to utilize the new ‘helo’ for harbor and coastal patrols, rescue missions and SWAT-team insertions. With the additional power and capability of the AS350B2, the PPD will be able to perform hoist rescues, homeland and port security missions. AHI leads in U.S. market sales of new helicopters to federal, state and law enforcement agencies, maintaining a 56 percent market share throughout the last decade. AHI’s AS350 line of helos is the most widely-used helicopters by U.S. law enforcement agencies – 220 are currently in use across the nation. The helicopter was built and certified by AHI’s Columbus, Miss., manufacturing facility. AHI is the American affiliate of Airbus Helicopters, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world, and a subsidiary of the Airbus Group. (Source: PR Web 06/26/14)