Government

SAN crash prompted aircraft upgrades

After the fatal accident, the government quickly approved $28 million for the National Air Service.

That money was used to purchase new aircraft as well as to repair aging members of the fleet.

la prensa

spurred: Following the crash of a National Air Service helicopter, $28 million was quickly earmarked to modernize the agency.1125799

Six months have passed since 11 people were killed in the crash of SAN-100 in Calidonia.

And while the final report on that accident is not yet ready, the National Air Service has already undergone many changes that were prompted by the accident.

The most telling change is the fact that the country will soon expand its air fleet to include two new helicopters that are due to be delivered early next year.

Air Service Director Rigoberto Gordon said that a Eurocopter EC 145, valued at $7.5 million, will be delivered in January. A $10 million Bell 412, which was donated by the Government of Taiwan, will arrive a month later.

The addition of those two aircraft will triple the country's fleet of operational helicopters, which currently stands at one.

The purchase of the Eurocopter is part of a $28 million program to modernize the Air Service. This plan went into action shortly after the SAN-100 crash.

In March, three of the service's five Bell 212 helicopters are expected to return to service. They are currently being renovated by Helitech Canada at a cost of $5 million.

Early next year the Spanish firm Aeds Casa is expected to begin $4.7 million worth of repairs to three Aviocar aircraft that also belong to the service.

Gordon said that the modernization program extends beyond the service's aircraft.

“We have also made significant efforts in the training of our staff,” Gordon said.

The service has sent 10 pilots for training in the United States, and 40 technicians have gone abroad for refresher courses.

According to Gordon, the modernization plan is about halfway complete. The agency plans to purchase additional aircraft next year which would be delivered in 2010 and 2011.

By early 2009, the agency plans to sign a contract with Nacional Aeronáutica of Chile for the repair of six aircraft that will be used for training at an aviation school in Chiriquí.

The agency plans to spend $500,000 next year on infrastructure that will get the school up and running.