Hong Kong Puma

Eurocopter president Jean-Francois Bigay officially handed over the keys here yesterday for the first of three AS 332 L2 Super Puma helicopters for the Government Flying Service of Hong Kong.

Captain Brian Butt, director of GFS, accepted the helicopter and explained the new fleet will help the organization expand its areas of operations and services, particularly in the maritime rescue role and also to locations in the adjacent areas of the mainland.

The GFS is a parapublic organization that performs missions for the government of the Hong Kong administrative region. The three Super Pumas, bought in a contract worth $93 million that also includes five EC 155 B1 helicopters, will replace nine U.S. helicopters.

The AS 332 L2 is a 10-tonne class helicopter featuring Spheriflex main and tail rotors, a new transmission, integrated digital avionics with color CRT displays, a four-axis duplex digital piloting system, and a crashworthy fuel system.