By Jean-Michel Guhl
The new H225M helicopter earmarked for the Prefectura Naval Argentina (PNA) is pictured near Marignane, France, before its official delivery to Argentina. It will be permanently based in Mar del Plata. ©Airbus Helicopters
Buenos Aires, Argentina, September 16, 2015 — At a ceremony presided by the Prefecto Nacional Naval, Luis Alberto Heiler, head of the Prefectura Naval Argentina (PNA) Airbus Helicopters officially handed over its first H225M helicopter to the Argentine Coast Guard. This new helicopter, which will be based in the city of Mar del Plata, in the southeast oceanic part of Buenos Aires Province, will be used for search and rescue missions along the Atlantic Ocean coastline. The arrival of this modern long-range rotorcraft marks the start of a renewal process for the PNA’s fleet where it shall replace a legacy SA330L Puma helicopter.
Besides numerous surface vessels, the Prefectura Naval Argentina owns a fleet of some twenty aircraft shared between fixed-wing and rotorcraft, constantly battling illegal fishing vessels in the Argentine EEZ when they are not busy saving lives at sea.
The first H225M for the Argentine Coast Guards (PNA) resplendent in its orange and white livery. More and more H225s are now making their way to South America where the avionics suite, range and versatility of this machine is considered superlative. ©Airbus Helicopters
“We thank the National Government and the Ministry of Security for supporting the Prefectura Naval Argentina’s fleet renewal process with new-generation helicopters that will increase our effectiveness when it comes to saving lives at sea”, declared the Prefecto Nacional Naval, Luis Alberto Heiler. “This helicopter’s extensive range will allow us to fly to zones far from the coast. In addition, it is equipped for day and night rescue operations and extreme weather conditions.”
The H225 delivered to the Argentine Coast Guard has an Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS), an invaluable flying aid that allows SAR missions to be carried out with greater precision, safety and effectiveness. In its SAR role, the aircraft is equipped with searchlights, a winch and a rescue basket, although it can also be rapidly reconfigured to carry out other missions such as coastal surveillance, port security or aid missions for coastal communities.
“I’d like to express my gratitude to the Argentine Coast Guard for choosing the H225, which makes it the first customer for this helicopter in the Southern Cone,” said Mesrob Karalekian, Airbus Helicopters Vice-President and Head of Latin America Region. “Not only will they operate an aircraft that is a global leader for SAR missions, they will also benefit from Airbus Helicopters’ support in the region to ensure optimum availability.”
For over thirty years now, the Argentine Coast Guards have been flying SA330 Pumas — one of which was captured by British forces in the Malvinas in 1982 and later impressed in the RAF. Here, Aérospatiale SA330L PA-11 c/n 1587 is seen landing at Buenos Aires’ Aeroparque Jorge Newbery in July 2009. All two PNA’s Pumas will be replaced by year’s end by a pair of Airbus Helicopters H225Ms. ©A.D. Luna
