Spain to receive seven helicopters from Airbus Helicopters

The Spanish Traffic Department has awarded a contract to Airbus Helicopters for the supply seven helicopters.

Under the contract, Airbus Helicopters will deliver four AS355NP Ecureuils and three EC135 helicopters, with the latter aircraft to be operated by Spain’s National Police Force.

The company, which is scheduled to supply one EC135and one AS355NP in 2014, will complete the deliveries in 2016.

Currently, Spain’s Traffic Department (DGT) is operating helicopters for surveillance, traffic regulation and highway patrols from its central headquarters in Madrid and peripheral patrols throughout Spanish territory (excluding Catalonia and the Basque Country).

Airbus Helicopters España CEO Francisco Vergé that the contract "constitutes a further vote of confidence by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior in our helicopters, which make up their entire fleet and have proven their worth on a range of different missions."

The reliable twin-engine AS355 NP helicopter has been designed to conduct missions including law enforcement and public services both day and night, whether over water, congested areas or hostile environments.

Fitted with equipment to perform a wide range of operations with optimal efficiency, the AS355 NP can also support missions including surveillance, command and control, light search and rescue, border patrol, aerial support for ground operations and coastal surveillance.

The helicopter’s additional features such as unobstructed cabin, forward-facing seats, open cockpit concept and low vibration levels enable installation of fully-integrated law enforcement instrument panels and tactical consoles.

The EC135 helicopter was also selected by the Spanish Ministry of Defense and is also used for military flight training and humanitarian missions to be carried out by the Military Emergency Unit.