2,000 check out police helicopter

LANGKAWI: The Police Air Unit’s new AgustaWestland AW139 twin-engined helicopter was the centre of attention during the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (Lima) 2017 exhibition open days here.

Parked at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre as part of the static aircraft display, the public thronged to get a closer look of the helicopter.

The unit’s deputy commander, Assistant Commissioner Noor Sham Md Jani, said the display had more than 2,000 visitors. Some sat inside the aircraft and took pictures.

“This is the first Lima for our AW139. Police have received two of six the government ordered in June last year.

“We brought both to the exhibition. The other one was used for a demonstration at the maritime segment.”

Noor Sham said the unit used the aircraft for multiple purposes, including transportation, search-and-rescue, evacuation and insertion operations.

He said the helicopters were the latest version and were equipped with Epic Primers Version 7.1 avionics system, besides having its take-off weight increased to 7,000kg compared with 6,800kg for the previous version.

The unit is expected to receive the remaining AW139 by 2021.