PARAPUBLIC
Every issue of HELICOPTER International carries the latest news from world-wide parapublic operators, including Police, EMS and Fire-fighting. Typical extract from the current issue ...
* Surplus US Army Bell OH-58 helicopters are continuing to be passed to local law enforcement agencies in the United States, with one of the more recent transfers being to the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office in Florida. The Sheriff's Office has received two OH-58s, costing just $12,000 in transfer fees, which will be operated in conjunction with the Denham Springs Police Dept for rescue, drug enforcement and other missions. One of the aircraft will remain in its basic military colour for use as a backup, whilst the other is being repainted for regular operations.
* The Swiss Air Rescue Guard (REGA) logged its 250,000th rescue/air ambulance mission on 17 November, when an Agusta A109K2 based at Erstfeld was called in to take a premature baby and her mother from the tourist resort of Engelberg to the Lucerne Children's Hospital. REGA's mission count began when the organisation was founded in 1952. The 200,000th mission was on 1 August 2002.
REGA announced last September that the remaining eight A109K2s, which operate from the alpine bases, will be replaced with A109S Grands in 2008-09. The four low land bases, at Basel, Berne, Lausanne and Zurich have already been re-equipped and now operate the Eurocopter EC145.
* A bid to introduce a Helicopter Emergency Medial Service (HEMS) in Surrey has received a financial boost from the County Council which has contributed £50,000 towards the initial £250,000 launch cost. A HEMS fund raising committee, headed up by actress Penelope Keith, has already raised £100,000 and received pledges totalling a further £50,000.
Surrey is one of only a few counties in England that does not have its own air ambulance, relying on the neighbouring Kent HEMS for emergency situations. However this can result in delays responding to road accidents and other incidents in the county if the Kent aircraft is already engaged in a response at the eastern end of the area.
The success of the financial appeal could see a dedicated helicopter based in Surrey by the beginning of FY2007.
* The Libyan Red Crescent has purchased five AgustaWestland A119 Koala helicopters for Emergency Medical Service (EMS) operations in Libya. The order follows the recent sale of ten A109 Power helicopters to the Libyan government.
The Koalas will support the country's health network but will also participate in disaster relief operations if necessary.