The Czech Ministry of Interior and Airbus Helicopters have signed a contract for 11 five-bladed H145 helicopters. These multi-role aircraft will be operated by the Czech Police Aviation Service, serving in its fleet for law enforcement, search and rescue, and emergency medical missions.
The comprehensive agreement encompasses not only the delivery of the helicopters but also an extensive training and logistics package to ensure operational integration.
“We are honoured that the Czech Ministry of Interior has chosen the H145 to support its vital missions. As the Czech police currently operate the H135, transitioning to the H145 is the logical next step in their fleet's evolution, allowing crews and maintenance teams to benefit from a high degree of commonality and ensure seamless operational readiness from day one,” Head of Europe Region at Airbus Helicopters, Thomas Hein, said.
Airbus and the Czech Republic share a 25-year history Airbus currently sources over €200 million (approx. A $326 million) worth of goods from the Czech Republic annually, making it a key contributor to the production of the company's commercial aircraft.
“This agreement highlights the H145's versatility as a multi-mission aircraft, capable of shifting quickly from demanding police work to life-saving rescue duties. In choosing the H145, the Czech police forces are joining a large number of law enforcement operators across Europe who have placed their trust in this platform, including several state police forces in Germany, the French Gendarmerie, and the Lithuanian Border Guards,” Hein stated.
The Czech Police Aviation Service is a long-standing operator of Airbus products, currently utilising a fleet that includes nine H135 family helicopters. This fleet will be replaced by the five-bladed H145.
In total, there are more than 1,800 H145 family helicopters in service, logging a total of more than 8.5 million flight hours. Powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines, the H145 is equipped with a full authority digital engine control (FADEC) and the Helionix digital avionics suite.
It includes a high performance 4-axis autopilot. More than 200 H145 helicopters are in service around the world in public service and law enforcement missions.