ARINC delivers new Huey II helicopters for U.S. Customs & Border Protection

Drug smugglers and illegal aliens face a more difficult future, as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Air and Marine has just expanded and increased the capabilities of its helicopter fleet.

ARINC Engineering Services, LLC, recently completed the delivery of three upgraded Huey II helicopters to the Office of Air and Marine (OAM). ARINC and its subcontractor, U.S. Helicopter, converted three standard UH-1H helicopters into the much more capable Huey II configuration, under a contract awarded in January 2009.

The third and final Huey II aircraft was delivered at the Ozark, AL, facility of U.S. Helicopter, an affiliate of Bell Helicopter. Charles Bourquardez, director of acquisitions for the CBP Office of Air and Marine, accepted the helicopters on behalf of ARINC’s customer.

“ARINC is very pleased to assist the Office of Air and Marine in modernizing its air fleet and enhancing its law enforcement capabilities,” said Steve Jordan, Project Manager for ARINC Engineering Services. “This important work for a strategic new customer significantly expands ARINC’s broad range of support for Homeland Security.”

The Huey II configuration starts with the proven Bell UH-1H helicopter and adds a more powerful engine, along with new dynamic components and tailboom. In addition, there is

a new navigation and communication suite, and total rewiring. The Huey II upgrade offers dramatically improved mission capability versus the UH-1H, with significant increases in hover performance and gross weight, while lowering direct operating costs.

The CBP Office of Air and Marine is the largest civilian law enforcement aviation and maritime organization in the world. It currently operates more than 260 aircraft of various types, including a fleet of nine standard UH-1H helicopters and nearly 200 maritime vessels from 80 sites around the country. During 2009, OAM contributed to the arrest of more than 1,600 narcotics smugglers and the apprehension of more than 59,000 illegal aliens. OAM also provides support to the CBP’s anti-terrorism mission along U.S. borders, including air-to-ground, air-to-air and air-to-water interceptions.

ARINC Inc., a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, provides communications, engineering and integration solutions for commercial, defense and government customers worldwide. Headquartered in Annapolis, MD, with regional headquarters in London and Singapore, ARINC is ISO 9001:2008 certified.