The City of Albuquerque and the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) received their first Airbus H125 in December 2019. The aircraft was selected for its ability to operate both day and night, proving itself as a valuable asset to the APD and the city.
The procurement of a second helicopter will enable the department to bolster its mission of reducing crime within the community, while simultaneously enhancing officer safety during patrol and high-risk operations. Moreover, the addition of another helicopter will help mitigate periods when air support is unavailable due to critical maintenance, ensuring continued aerial coverage over Albuquerque.
The H125 is renowned for its exceptional maneuverability and capacity to incorporate specialized police equipment into its platform. It is fast, agile, and utilized by law enforcement agencies globally. In fact, it is the preferred aircraft for most airborne law enforcement operations in the United States.
The H125 is well-suited for multi-role law enforcement missions including surveillance, command and control, search and rescue, patrol operations, and special operations. It is particularly ideal for Albuquerque's weather conditions and altitude; high altitudes and hot summer temperatures pose no challenge for this aircraft.
A variety of equipment options have been developed specifically for police missions. These include law enforcement instrument panels, searchlights, electro-optical systems (EOS), operator consoles, light sourcing instruments compatible with night vision goggles (NVG), wire strike protection systems, loudspeakers, down-link relays among others.
