New chopper expected in days
H145 helicopter (CLICK TO ENLARGE)
(CNS): Government officials have said that the new Royal Cayman Islands Police Service helicopter is being fast-tracked to arrive in the Cayman Islands sooner than expected, after the existing machine was damaged recently in a crash landing at the airport. The new chopper, which is being jointly funded by the Cayman and UK governments and will be used by police, border patrol and the new coast guard service went it gets underway, should be here in matter of days. In a press release from the offices of both the premier and the governor, officials said an agreement had been made with Airbus Helicopters for the new machine’s delivery to be sped-up.
The new custom-made H145 helicopter will be used alongside the RCIPS’ existing chopper once the repairs have been completed to that machine and it is returned to service. In the meantime it will plug the hole for the RCIPS Air Operations Unit. The helicopter is expected to boost Cayman’s capability in the areas of search and rescue, law enforcement and border protection operations.
The aircraft will also be used to respond to disasters and other emergency situations in other UK Caribbean Overseas Territories.
“We are grateful to the Air Operations Unit (AOU) and Airbus Helicopters for their work to ensure that the new helicopter can be deployed so quickly,” Governor Martyn Roper said in the release.
“This will help to ensure the safety and security of the territory whilst the existing helicopter is out of action and is a significant step-up in our law enforcement capability. I would also like to commend the two pilots from the AOU who managed to land their aircraft safely after what was an unforeseeable technical failure. That manoeuvre clearly took some skill and quick thinking and I am relieved that nobody was seriously injured,” he added.
Premier Alden McLaughlin said, “I appreciate the expediency of the arrival of the new helicopter to help pick up the work of the damaged aircraft to aid in our continued efforts of providing support for security, law enforcement and disaster response for the Cayman Islands and our Caribbean Overseas Territories. The new helicopter will be an invaluable tool to help support our new Coast Guard agency as well as our broader security groups.”
Category: Crime, Crime Prevention, Local News, Police
At least it’s not manufactured by Boeing.
as a native living in these islands…i am so happy with the success of the RCIP in curbing crime and drugs coming into them….over the last few years.. keep up the good work …..☺?
Sarcasm?!?
Fantastic news, respect for getting it delivered ahead of time. I am sure it will proof itself in no time.
@CNS, for all the typical negative comments to come…the picture shows the “type of aircraft” not “RCIPS’ new helicopter”, (Unless it flew in Italy before) 🙂
CNS: The labelling supplied by government was “The new H145 aircraft”, which I took to mean the actual helicopter, but I’ll double check.
Update: You’re correct, it’s the same type. I’ll change the caption.
Great. Another invasion of privacy buzzing around the skies.
11.18pm If you walk around naked in your yard that’s tough. Focus your “brain” on all the benefits this will bting in reducing crime and assisting in accidents/medical evacuations.
Well said 11:18. Having two heliocopters will double the noise and further ruin our once peaceful Island. #WEONLYNEEDONE
I have been watching this story very closely. I have no life.
Where is the report on the damaged heli?
Why?
It was paid for with public funds and the public deserves to know. It’s quite simple. I suspect there is a cover-up for pilot error causing the crash.
No cover up my friend. Far from it, excellent skills by the pilot involved. But you sound like that’s not what you want to hear.
8.25am This is not Cayman Airways of the Civil Service.
What a total idiot you sound. The helo will have to undergo forensic examination by engineers at Airbus, it will undoubtedly have to be inspected by other aviation experts and the pilots testimony taken into account.
There was no pilot error here, it’s clear that there was mechanical failure on take off as the aircraft clearly failed to respond to input commands.
Take your stupid conspiratorial head out of your ass and educate yourself.
That pilot would have hundreds, probably thousands of flying hours under his belt. I would trust his judgement and flying expertise over your small island mentality anytime.
because the tax payers of this island deserve the right to know
According to BEA in France
https://www.bea.aero/en/investigation-reports/notified-events/detail/event/perte-de-controle-en-lacet-en-stationnaire-atterrissage-dur-1/
“Preliminary data based on the notification from the United Kingdom authorities:
Cyclic control problem while lifting into hover resulting in heavy landing.”
These things take time
It was clearly pilot error. He went in an out of ground effect and to sum it up, it was a bouncy take off. Didn’t control the collective to maintain the lift that the rotors provide. Basic aerodynamics. He made a good save though.
You know absolutely nothing. That is clear.
Ooops. I saw that picture first before reading the article and thought the chopper had already arrived and was flying over Mount Trashmore.
Fantastic news!