The signing of the
contract underscores the pledge Bolivian President Evo Morales made
at a meeting with his French counterpart Francois Hollande in New York
last September, while allowing the FAB to renew and strengthen its fleet
with helicopters boasting the latest technology. The contract also includes
a logistical support package that aims to provide the FAB with the resources
and know-how it needs to ensure high fleet availability
.
“We are very proud to provide our air force with latest-generation
multi-role aircraft that will enable us to successfully carry out our
ongoing missions and face the challenges of the future,” said
General Victor Hugo Meneses Gomez, Air Chief Marshal of the Bolivian
Air Force
.
The helicopters will mainly be used to combat drug trafficking and will
also carry out public-security and disaster-relief missions throughout
the country. General Meneses added: “Bearing in mind the extreme
operating conditions in Bolivia, the Super Puma was chosen mainly because
of its versatility, safety and, above all else, its ability to operate
at high altitude.”
“ We would like to thank the Bolivian Air Force for renewing their
confidence in our helicopters," said Mesrob Karalekian, Airbus
Helicopters’ Vice-President of Sales and Customer Relations for
Latin America. “ The Super Puma is a powerful multi-role helicopter
that is perfectly suited to the demands of operating in the region and
which, thanks to its state-of-the-art onboard technology, allows missions
to achieve more, all in complete safety.”
The relationship between Airbus Helicopters and the Bolivian Air Force
began several decades ago with the Lama and the Alouette. The FAB now
operates the Ecureuil AS350 B3 and, as of last year, two EC145s, which
are used to transport dignitaries and conduct missions in support of
the population. With this latest purchase, the FAB will benefit from
a technology transfer program that includes the training of more than
80 technicians and pilots in France and Bolivia. It will also be supplied
with special tools for setting up a maintenance center, where intermediate
inspections (every 500 hours) will be carried out, and two operational
bases for smaller inspections (every 100 hours), the objective being
for the FAB to acquire strategic autonomy.