The Philippine Coast Guard has taken delivery of its second H145 helicopter, just four months after the official commissioning of its first H145. With their two light-twin helicopters, the parapublic agency becomes the first coast guard organisation in the world to operate the multi-purpose H145. The new 4-tonne-class twin-engine helicopter is specially equipped with weather radar, bambi bucket, emergency floatation gears, as well as external loudspeaker, to perform critical missions such as search and rescue, maritime patrol, law enforcement and fire-fighting.
“Having led numerous operations in the country for many years, we are very happy to be the first in the Philippines to introduce the H145 for parapublic missions,” said Captain Philipps Soria, commander of Coast Guard Aviation Force at the agency’s 119th anniversary celebrations where the second H145 was commissioned. “Our work is ever-evolving, and we need an aircraft that can keep up with a wide range of requirements. We appreciate the H145’s versatility, endurance, and reliability in all conditions.”
The H145 is a market leader for emergency medical services and rescue missions due to its spacious, unobstructed cabin that was specifically designed to meet the requirements set by national regulatory agencies. It is equipped with the Helionix avionics suite along with upgraded main and tail rotor systems. In the Philippines alone, there are currently six H145 helicopters deployed mainly for business aviation purposes. Globally, more than 1,400 units are currently in service, achieving more than 5.9 million flight hours.