Chiltern Air Support Unit - Eurocopter EC135 T2 Helicopter

Richard Liversidge

G-CPSH

Chiltern Air Support Unit – In 2002 a new Eurocopter EC135 T2, tail code G-CPSH provided enhanced pilot safety with a three axis autopilot (CAA requirement) and much improved equipment for the police role.

The Air Support Unit base in Luton closed in 2006 and moved to a £1m purpose build facility at RAF Henlow where the Unit continued to operate until September 2012. As part of a rationalisation of police aviation in England and Wales the National Police Air Service was created in 2011. The organisation reviewed coverage and provision of Air Support and the facility at RAF Henlow was deemed superfluous and was sold back to the RAF.

The aircraft G-CPSH had its ownership transferred to the National Police Air Service and upgraded to a T2+ variant and re-registered with a tail code G-POLC.

The aircraft is now nearly 20 years old and has amassed in excess of 17000 flying hours.
(Detail and photos courtesy of Richard BARKER)

This page was added on 12/03/2021.

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