American Eurocopter has delivered another AS350B3 helicopter to the Miami-Dade Police Department's Aviation Unit, the company announced.
It's the second of four AS350B3s that have been ordered. The aircraft will join the department's Special Patrol Bureau's Aviation Unit that includes a fleet of rotary and fixed-wing aircraft. The first AS350B3 was delivered a year ago and the MDPD will continue to receive helicopters at a rate of one a year over the next two years.
"The AS350B3 has given us the power, reliability and flexibility to meet our evolving mission platform," said Sgt. Tom Turpin, an aviation unit pilot. "With its advanced technology and adaptability, this helicopter delivers the capabilities we need to patrol our area and meet the security needs of our region."
The mission platform of the MDPD Aviation Unit has evolved to include Homeland Security initiatives as well as port security and coverage for county infrastructures.
The AS350B3 is a single-engine helicopter equipped with a 847 shp Turbomeca Arriel 2B1 engine. The AS350 family serves 75 agencies across the nation.