Page 56 - World Airnews Magazine March 2021

NEWS DIGITAL

BOTSWANA POLICE

PILOTS TRAINING

ON ENSTROM 480B

By Guy Martin

The Safomar Aviation Group of emergency medical systems. Apart from
Companies has been able to offer the specialist police duties, the aircraft can be
The second group of pilots from Botswana Police Service Air Support quickly configured for the passenger role
the Botswana Police Service Air Support Branch a turn-key solution for this project, and carry three to five people.
Branch arrived in South Africa for their from aircraft type acquisition to mission Australia’s Trakka Systems is supplying
second Enstrom 480B Helicopter Pilot Type equipment selection and integration, A800 searchlights and TC-300S multi-
Conversion Training course. maintenance support services, spares sensor cameras for the helicopters.
They are flying Enstrom 480B registration support and supply, logistics plus pilot and The Enstrom 480B multi-role light
BPS-12, the second of three helicopters engineer training. turbine helicopter is in service in more
to be delivered to the Botswana Police Safomar Aviation, Enstrom’s local than 30 countries and this includes with
Air Support Branch. The first (BPS-11) was dealer, in December 2019 announced the the Indonesian National Police, Japanese
delivered in November 2020 and is already Botswana order for three Enstrom 480Bs. Ground Self-Defence, Royal Thai Army,
in operation in Botswana, Safomar Aviation Once in service, the upgraded Enstrom Colombian Air Force, Chilean Army, US
said. 480Bs will be used for crime prevention, Police departments, Venezuela Air Force
The pilot training for this project is being wildlife conservation, command and etc.
facilitated by Safomar Aviation Operations control and search and rescue as well as The type first flew in 1989 and entered
along with aircraft maintenance engineer training. service in 1993. It is powered by a Rolls-
training which was facilitated by Mega Aero The new helicopters are customised to Royce 250-C20W turbine producing 313
Training Academy. Both training companies the Botswana Police Service specifications kW although maximum continuous power
are members of the Safomar Aviation and include navigation and communication is 206 kW. This gives a maximum speed of
Group of Companies. equipment, cargo slinging and light 230 km/h and endurance of five hours. Q

World Airnews | March Extra 2021
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