Helibras has this week delivered a second EC130 to the State Government of Parana, for operation by their Public Safety department.  Like the first aircraft it will have joint law enforcement and air ambulance roles as it starts operatinos today – Thursday 27th October.

Lt. Col. Orlando Artur da Costa, Commander of the Parana State aviation department, highlights the qualities of the model. “The biggest operational advantage of the EC130 comparing to other aircraft in the activity of Security, is the possibility of keeping missions in a minimum crew of two pilots and one or more operating crew, which leads to increased safety and accuracy in the work,”

For this aircraft, and it’s sister ship with the same operator, Helibras have developed a longitudinally mounted litter kit – designed for quick installation/retrofit.  The first aircraft was used to help  rescue victims of flooding in the Serra Fluminense in Rio de Janeiro in early 2011, and other flooding incidents in the south mid-year.

Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com