Ohio State Highway Patrol orders first Columbus built H125 AStar

Ohio State Highway Patrol Airbus Helicopters H125 at ALEA 2015

Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) has ordered the first H125 AStar produced on Airbus Helicopters final assembly line in Columbus, Miss.

OSHP currently operates two AS350B2 AStars to conduct patrol and aerial searches with thermal imaging systems, as well as photography missions. The highway patrol has been operating AStars for more than 20 years.

Airbus Helicopters has partially assembled AS350B2 and AS350B3 AStar helicopters in Columbus since 2005. Production of the H125 (formerly AS350 B3e) on the full final assembly line began in late 2014.

Captain Randy Boggs of the Ohio State Highway Patrol Aviation Section said: “Our new H125 will give us increased power and useful load, along with additional safety features. We are looking forward to placing our new helicopter into service later this year.”

“It is exciting that the first Made in America H125 will be delivered to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.”

Christopher Emerson, president of Airbus Helicopters Inc said: “It is exciting that the first Made in America H125 will be delivered to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Law enforcement and government operators will value that the H125 is made in the USA, and it is important that the first ship goes to a long time AStar operator such as the OSHP. Now that we are producing helicopters on the Columbus final assembly line, Airbus Helicopters Inc. will provide better support and service to customers both before and after delivery.”

The OHSP will take delivery of its new H125 at Airbus Helicopters Inc. headquarters in Grand Prairie, Texas, later this year.

Airbus Helicopters Inc. will be exhibiting at ALEA Expo 2015 in Houston, Texas from 15 to 17 July.