UK Military Flight Training System expands with order of four H145 helicopters

Airbus Helicopters in the United Kingdom (UK) is to provide four additional H145 helicopters as part of an expansion of the UK Military Flight Training System (UKMFTS).

The new helicopters will join the existing fleet of 29 H135s and three H145s, known respectively as Juno and Jupiter in UKMFTS service. They will be delivered this year.

The aircraft are used to train all UK military helicopter pilots and rear crew.

The H145 helicopter family has completed more than 5.5 million flight hours worldwide with more than 1,300 aircraft in the global fleet.

US nuclear administration seeks to replace Bell helicopters

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Nuclear Incident Response (ONIR), is hosting an Industry Day meeting in Las Vegas this month to discuss the replacement of two Bell 412HP helicopters with a new rotary wing aircraft. The meeting was announced in contract documents released in August.

“Information exchanged during this event will be used to help refine the acquisition strategy and obtaining innovative approaches, solutions, and technologies to meet the government requirements for replacing two helicopters with new rotary wing aircraft,” NNSA said in contract documents.

The ONIR is the premier technical leader in responding to and successfully resolving nuclear and radiological incidents or accidents. Technical teams are prepared to search for radioactive material, and help manage the consequences of a release of radioactive material into the environment. One of these assets, NNSA's Aerial Measuring System, has specialized airborne radiation detection systems that provide real-time measurements of low levels of air and ground contamination. The equipment, aircraft, and trained experts maintain a state of readiness to respond to a radiological emergency at any time. The aircraft operations are at Joint Base Andrews, Md., and Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, Nev.

To perform these aerial surveys, flights are performed from 50 to 3,000 feet above the ground at speeds from 60 to 80 knots. The crew consists of two pilots and two technical specialists that operate the detection equipment. Survey flight patterns are predominately parallel line patterns often performed over congested areas of the country.

The NNSA Industry Day meeting will be held at North Las Vegas Airport on Oct. 29.

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US seeks helicopters for Colombian National Police

The Department of State’s Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia, is seeking potential sources capable of providing five Bell 206B3 helicopters for the Colombian National Police (CNP).

All aircraft will be delivered to, assembled (if required), and test flown, by the contractor, in Bogota, Colombia, at the CNP Aviation Base in Guaymaral, Santa Fe de Bogota, Cundimarca (approximately 12 kilometers north of Bogota).

"The U.S. government recognizes that the Bell 206B3 is no longer in production; therefore this will be a procurement of helicopters that are not in a new condition,” the State Department said in contract documents released Monday.

Companies interested in supplying the helicopters are requested to respond to the State Department by Jan. 17.

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