Law enforcement agencies throughout North America have placed orders for Airbus H125 helicopters, providing them with a valuable tool as they work to protect communities and ensure the safety of citizens. In total, nineteen H125s were booked for law enforcement missions in 2022.
“Over the past decade, more than 75 per cent of all single-engine law enforcement deliveries in North America have been Airbus H125 helicopters,” says Treg Manning, vice president of sales and marketing for Airbus Helicopters North America. “Law enforcement agencies continue to choose the H125 because of the high performance, reliability and versatility it offers as an aircraft well adapted for multi-role missions.”
Notable new bookings in 2022 were made by existing Airbus customer York Regional Police, as well as new Airbus customers Kansas Highway Patrol and Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police.
York Regional Police opted to upgrade to an H125 from its current EC120, which it has used since 2002. The aircraft will be used for law enforcement missions in Ontario, Canada including speed patrol, suspect surveillance and pursuit, and search and rescue.
Kansas Highway Patrol ordered an H125 helicopter as an addition to its fleet. It will use the H125 for missions including search and rescue, vehicle pursuits, emergency response, counter-drug missions and transporting vital equipment, personnel and assets.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police also placed an order for an H125. The new helicopter will prove to be a powerful conservation enforcement tool, replacing the Bell 206 it previously operated. Officers will use the H125 to patrol public lands and waters, ensuring the safety of visitors and the protection of natural resources.
Airbus continues to be the leading provider of new helicopters to law enforcement agencies, with more than 60% of all North American law enforcement aircraft deliveries in the past decade being Airbus products.
Orders previously announced include Phoenix Police Department, which opted to replace a fleet of four AS350 B3 helicopters with a fleet of five H125s. Metropolitan Nashville Police Department added two H125s to its fleet last year, replacing the MD 500s it had previously operated. Kern County Sheriff's Office will also acquire two Airbus H125s to replace its current MD 500 and OH-58 helicopters, as announced at Heli-Expo 2022.