The Mexican Air Force has been trying to sell a number of Government aircraft for some years, and recently held the next attempt with an auction that closed on 4th March. In the sale were 19 aircraft, including six fixed wing – two Boeings, two Learjet 31s and two light Cessna twins.

The other 13 lots comprised three AS355s, two EC225s, four AS332s and four AW109SPs. Only five of the 19 aircraft sold, the Boeing 737 and the four AS332s, with the helicopters realising a total of 56,697,130 Mexican Peso, the equivalent of US$2.75 Million at today’s exchange rate. For a little more detail:-

Lot 9, AS332L1, built 1993, hours 5809, sold for 19,782,790 pesos = US$961,423
Lot 10, AS332L1, built 1987, hours 7295, sold for 15,243,260 pesos = US$740,807
Lot 11, AS332L, built 1983, hours NA, sold for 4,539,530 pesos = US$220,616
Lot 14, AS332L1, built 1991, hours 5914, sold for 17,131,550 pesos = US$832,576

The purchaser of the helicopters, assuming all monies were completed by 22nd March as required, was reported in local press as Dean Porter, on behalf of Coldstream Helicopters.

Based in Kelowna, British Columbia, Coldstream has been building up a fleet of AS332s, and has started to use them for lifting and firefighting work. From their first acquisition in mid 2019, they added a further two by mid 2020. A fourth joined in November from the old CHC Norway fleet, having been in store in Poland.

2021 started with two bought from from Air Center Helicopters in February, and their latest acquisition will bring the fleet to ten.

HeliHub.com