Mesa, Arizona, October 8, 2010… MD Helicopters, Inc (MDHI) and the Air Operations Unit of the West Yorkshire Police have announced that MD Explorer, helicopter serial number 078 has extended its record for flight hours, reaching 12,600 hours as of mid-September of this year. The flight hours exceed any other MD Explorer in the fleet, with Humberside Police Authority just announcing that their MD Explorer now exceeds 10,000 hours.

The Air Operations Unit, Operations Support Division of the West Yorkshire Police uses the MD Explorer to provide 24/7 police coverage over a 785 square mile area, completing over 4500 missions a year. This includes tracking down offenders, drug enforcement checks, locating vulnerable missing persons and stolen vehicle. The average response time for all missions is five minutes.

Writing about the aircraft, John Whittaker, the Unit Executive Officer said, “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. We keep asking for more and G-YPOL simply just delivers. She has met every challenge asked of her.”

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 boasts exceptional power for take-off and landing on elevated platforms. The Category A rating allows for continuity of takeoff with safe return to the takeoff point in the event of a failure of one of its engines.

The NOTAR system makes the MD Explorer the quietest and safest helicopter in its class. The MD Explorer is certified by the FAA, China’s CAAC, Russia’s MAK and Europe’s EASA for Category A and single pilot instrument flight rule (IFR) operations.

HeliHub.com editor comment. This is the first manufacturer we can remember to put out three press releases in less than two years just to update the world on the airframe hours of their lead aircraft. Check here for February 2009 advising 10,000 hours, and here for February 2010 at 11,500 hours. Is this over the top?