The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Air 5 rescue chopper, the one you usually hear when an errant hiker is in trouble in the hills, will be replaced with a newer and more powerful model next summer.
Skip Robinson, writing in Vertical, a helicopter industry publication, says the LA County Sheriff's Department Aero Bureau has purchased three Eurocopter AS332 L1 Super Pumas, which will replace the modified Sikorsky SH-3H Sea Kings now used in rescues.
It's getting harder to find parts and support for the almost 50 year old Sea Kings, says Robinson. After looking for possible replacements, the sheriff's department found three used Super Pumas that were well-maintained and relatively little used.
According to Super Puma program manager Deputy Pat McKernan, “We carefully evaluated the AS332 L1 aircraft and found them to be the right fit for the Air Rescue 5 program. We also knew they were highly desirable on the open market and immediately began the process of obtaining approval to purchase them. Being previously owned but in excellent condition, these 18,960-pound aircraft were bought for what it would typically cost to buy medium twins. Our projected yearly operating costs look like they will be substantially lower than we currently experience with our aging fleet of rescue aircraft.”
All three choppers were flown in a three day cross country flight from Florida to Long Beach, where the sheriff's department has a flight facility.
Robinson quotes Deputy Mark Burnett, an Air Rescue 5 pilot, as saying "It’s great having a modern aircraft with full parts and engineering support from the manufacturer. We are looking forward to operating the Super Pumas in our mission profile, including hot-and-high conditions. We start at 5,600 feet from our mountain base [at Barley Flats], so the strong engines are going to be a great asset to our operations. Additionally, the 130-knot anticipated cruise speed is considerably better than the Sea King, allowing us to get on scene and transport patients faster. With its power, speed and payload, I see many advantages that the Super Pumas will bring to our mission.”
The new chopper will be refitted at Heli-One in Delta, British Columbia. Vertical magazine says the sheriff's department expects the aircraft to be operational and crews to be trained by mid-2012.
Pictured: the new rescue Super Pumas. Photo by Skip Robinson/Vertical.
