Fleet lead MD Explorer® exceeds 11,500 Flight Hours

Fleet lead MD Explorer® exceeds 11,500 Flight Hours

21-Feb-2010 Source: MD Helicopters

MD Helicopters, Inc (MDHI) and the Air Operations Unit of the West Yorkshire Police have announced that an MD Explorer®, helicopter serial number 078 has extended its record for flight hours, reaching 11,565 hours as of mid-January of this year.  The flight hours far exceed any other MD Explorer in the fleet.
The Air Operations Unit, Operations Support Division of the West Yorkshire Police use the MD Explorer to provide 24/7 police coverage over a 785 square mile area, completing over 4500 missions a year.
In the month of December 2009, helicopter 078 flew a total of 122 hours on 453 missions.  During these 453 missions, 31 offenders were located by the helicopter crew, 15 offenders were located due to the assistance of the helicopters crew, 125 drug enforcement checks were carried out, 2 vulnerable missing persons were located, and 4 stolen vehicles were located.  The average on scene response time for all missions was a mere five minutes.
Writing about the aircraft, John Whittaker, the Unit Executive Officer said, “I am particularly proud of this achievement …. We took delivery of ship 078 in 2000 and after role fitting went operationally live on 13 February 2001.  G-YPOL, as we refer to SN78, has always performed to the highest level and proved to be a very popular aircraft with all our pilots and crew.  2007/08 saw us fly 1282 hrs responding to 4043 missions, 2008/09 we flew 1477 hrs and 5285 missions, this year we are set to equal or top last years figures.  In just two years the crew has been directly responsible for locating 877 offenders and 78 vulnerable missing people – that has real impact on the quality of people’s lives. We keep asking for more and G-YPOL simply just delivers.  She has met every challenge asked of her, including the considerable increase in demand following our move to 24/7 coverage in April of 2005.”
Powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada 207E engines with 720 shaft horsepower per engine, the MD Explorer has the highest payload in the light-twin class.  With a maximum gross weight of 6,500 pounds (2948 kg), it has an exceptional amount of power for take-off and landing on elevated platforms.  The Category A rating of the MD Explorer allows for continuation of a take off or a safe return to the takeoff point in the event of a failure of one of its engines.  The NOTAR system allows the MD Explorer to be the quietest helicopter in its class and it is clearly the safest.  The MD Explorer is certified by the FAA and Europe’s JAA for Category A instrument flight rule (IFR) operations.
To experience the MD Explorer, please visit the MD Helicopters, Inc. Booth 3841 at Heli-Expo being held Sunday, February 21 through Tuesday, February 23 in the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.
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About MD Helicopters, Inc.
MD Helicopters, Inc., is a leading manufacturer of commercial and military helicopters.  The MDHI family of rotorcraft is world renowned for its value, versatility and performance.  The MD Helicopters family includes the twin-engine MD Explorer®, and single engine versions of the MD 600N®, MD 520N®, MD 500E® and MD 530F®. The NOTAR® system for anti-torque control is used exclusively by MD Helicopters. The Company is based in Mesa, Ariz.  For more information about MDHI visit http://www.mdhelicopters.com

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