News from Specialist Aviation Services

5 June 2006

New MD Explorer for Cambridgeshire Police

Cambridgeshire Police took delivery of their new MD Explorer G-CMBS on 23 May, following an intensive two-week period of pilot training and acceptance testing, at Gloucestershire Airport.

The aircraft, which is due to go into service later this month, has been supplied by Police Aviation Services Ltd, who have fitted the aircraft with the very latest specification in police role equipment, which includes a Wescam MX15 thermal imaging camera system. The aircraft is also planned to be operated using night vision goggles following trials later in the year.

G-CMBS,replaces the force's older generation AS 355 G-CAMB, which has been in service with them for ten years. The new helicopter will provide significantly improved capability as a police aircraft.

In taking delivery of the aircraft, Capt. Tony Cowan, the Unit Executive Officer (UEO) for Cambridgeshire Police's Air Support Unit stated: "It gives me an enormous sense of satisfaction to take delivery of a very fine aircraft with an excellent suite of police role equipment."

This brings to a total of 14 the number of MD Explorers operated by the UK's emergency services and reinforces the strength of belief that operators have in the aircraft which is achieving leading availability levels in its class.

Cambridgeshire Police accepting the handover of MD Explorer G-CMBS

Pictured left to right are:

Sgt Gareth Williams (Deputy UEO)
Henk Schaeken (MD of Police Aviation Services Ltd)
Supt Darren Alderson (Operations Division),
Mr Rick Brundell (Contracts Manager),
Capt Tony Cowan (UEO)
Capt Mick Hemingway (Chief Pilot)