American Eurocopter delivered the first EC120 to the Lake County Sheriff’s Department Aviation Unit. This helicopter will join the unit’s fleet that started service in Indiana in 1979. The aviation unit is responsible for airborne law enforcement support missions throughout Lake County, Ind., and surrounding areas. The unit utilizes a variety of aircraft including military surplus models.
According to Sergeant Randy Phillips, “It was definitely time to upgrade. The combination of price, performance, technology options, and great support we receive from American Eurocopter made the EC120 an easy choice.”
The unit flies a variety of missions that include pursuit assistance and general patrol. Additionally it provides aerial support to the K-9, aquatics, marine, and tactical special operations units. The EC120 is night-vision-goggle compatible and outfitted with advanced technologies such as forward looking infrared system, a remote control SX-5 Night Sun searchlight, and a moving map system. These technological advancements will help the unit expand the scope of its missions and support throughout its areas of operation.
The EC120 cockpit comes equipped with vehicle and engine multifunction display that decreases pilot workload. The helicopter is powered by a Turbomeca ARRIUS 2F engine and features the new generation Fenestron tail rotor.
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