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Estimated reading time 4 minutes, 40 seconds.
MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) announces the delivery of a new MD 530F to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The agency’s first aircraft, the helicopter’s primary mission is to research and eradicate cannabis cultivation on public lands and help clean up the destruction caused by illegal activity. The aircraft will also support the department’s additional fish and wildlife missions, including search and rescue, investigations and general law enforcement.
“Illegal operations for growing marijuana far outnumber licensed operations, and with them water theft and the poisoning of our fragile forest ecosystems with pesticides and other illegal chemicals,” says Gavin. Woelfel, senior pilot director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. “We selected the MD 530F for its powerful performance from sea level to altitude, allowing us to safely and effectively patrol all of California’s diverse topography in search of these illegal and destructive operations and to better protect our natural resources. “
The MD 530F provides the department with a new tool in the fight against these illegal operations which threaten already dry land and stressed vegetation. As the department’s first helicopter, the aircraft allows officers to search larger areas more efficiently and from the air, the most difficult direction for illegal producers to hide their operations.
Aircraft configuration
MD Helicopters’ certified glass cockpit is the focal point of the interior of the aircraft’s advanced night vision goggles, designed to enhance safety during night patrols, surveillance and tactical operations. It includes the Garmin G500 [H] TXi Electronic Flight Instruments (EFIS), Howell Instruments Electronic Engine Instruments and Crew Alert Systems (EICAS) and Garmin GTN 750Xi Touchscreen NAV / COM / GPS. The 530F’s powerful 650-shp Rolls-Royce 250-C30 turbine engine allows additional mission equipment to be added to increase the aircraft’s capacity. The configuration also includes an extended reach fuel tank, quick rappelling left and right descent systems, an integrated loading hook for sling loads and human loads, special operations benches and support racks. Raptor Long Gun System rifle and wire protection system. The NVG-enabled cockpit comes with Garmin’s GTR 225B NVG and the Canyon Aeroconnect Flexcomm â„¢ RT-7000 tactical airborne radio to provide seamless broadband civil and government communications.
Other amenities include:
- The Shadin fuel flow transducer is integrated into the GTN 750Xi via remote flow and provides the pilot with real-time fuel consumption rates as well as situational awareness via distance rings.
- The Mid-Continent MD-23 Flex gauge has been programmed to read engine torque remotely via ARIC 429 directly from the aircraft’s Data Acquisition Unit (DAU).
- High contrast main rotor blades
- AEM LSC22 Siren / PA controller with 300W speaker system
- Flightcell DZMx DZUS with satellite and 3G cellular capability
- Canyon Aeroconnect digital audio control system
- MDHI remote engine torque gauge mounted on door pillar
- Door post mounted load weight indicator
This press release was prepared and distributed by MD Helicopters, Inc.
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