Helicopteros Mexicanos

[Earl of Rochester]

http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/ie/images/IE-MexicoFlagSmall.jpg

There seem to be quite a number of interesting developments in Mexico's rotary wing industry.

Anyone with up-to-date news and views about helicopters (and the industry) in Mexico .. please contribute!

Satisfechas de volar!

Earl

* * *

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/7/5/9/1765957.jpg (http://www.pprune.org/photo/Comision-Federal-de/Bell-407/1765957/L/&sid=3908a6d053a51763d96d9ec5b09b96e9)

Bell 407 XA-SAV of Comision Federal de Electricidad landing at the Bell service centre at Mexico City (MEX) July 2010

http://homepage.mac.com/helipilot/PPRUNETWO/TaliaFB.jpg

Bell 407 XA-??? PPRuNed from this thread: http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/169562-female-helicopter-pilots-3.html (http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/169562-female-helicopter-pilots-3.html) evidently flown by a Capt. Talia Santiago

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/7/5/5/1765557.jpg (http://www.pprune.org/photo/Aerospatiale-AS-355N-Ecureuil/1765557/L/&sid=3908a6d053a51763d96d9ec5b09b96e9)

AS355N 'Twin Squirrel' XA-TAA departs (MEX) August 2010

Question: Is it a requirement that all Mexican helicopters must wear the national flag (as in Switzerland)?

[expatron]

Question: Is it a requirement that all Mexican helicopters must wear the national flag (as in Switzerland)?


Yes it is.

[Yellow & Blue Baron]

Earl of Rochester; here are some more Mexican helicopter:

http://www.indybay.org/uploads/2008/10/16/helicopter.jpg

Mexican Police AS350 in riot control

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/3/9/9/1268993.jpg (http://www.pprune.org/photo/Untitled-(TV-Azteca)/Agusta-A-109E-Power/1268993/L/&sid=282dbf9c4099d443ee3b423c87f829c3)

Agusta 109E belonging to TV Azteca

YBB
http://www.icelandexpress.is/is/upload/images/iceland_express/destinations/swedish-flag-67x.jpg

[Gordy]

Ahhhh the glamor of it all.....In reality, most spots are like this:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/Helo-general/mexico.jpg

We are down there on fire contract for about 2 or 3 months each year, and are issued a Government armed guard for the whole time.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/Helo-general/IMG_0482.jpg

[BlenderPilot]

I flew that A109 (the one with the colors) for 3 years . . . I fly an A109E in Mexico City now, and also fly for the Mexico City police, what would you like to know?

Here is a video I took recently here in Mexico City only 3 minutes, I especially like the landing part . . . .

yu4oCKFn4xg

[BlenderPilot]

VIP 139
http://homepage.mac.com/helipilot/PPRUNETWO/GIU.jpg

Locals decided to throw rocks at a police helicopter with rotors turning
http://homepage.mac.com/helipilot/PPRUNETWO/BladeRoc.jpg

Newest VIP 139
http://homepage.mac.com/helipilot/PPRUNETWO/GSC.jpg

EC-225
http://homepage.mac.com/helipilot/PPRUNETWO/SuperPuma.jpg*

Veracruz State Bell 430
http://homepage.mac.com/helipilot/PPRUNETWO/XAL.jpg*

Mexico City Police
http://homepage.mac.com/helipilot/PPRUNETWO/SPVHelitanque.jpg*

Skydiving Instructor (real photo taken by me)
http://homepage.mac.com/helipilot/PPRUNETWO/SuperA109E.jpg

Another VIP 139
http://homepage.mac.com/helipilot/PPRUNETWO/Super139FB.jpg**

[Earl of Rochester]

- BlenderPilot

Thanks for the video and photographs! :ok:

For those uninitiated with Mexican aviation I suppose there is an interest to know something about the statistics; such as the civil helicopter popultion, its distribution among corporate, charter and civil duties etc. There seems to be an appreciable number of high value and/or relatively new helicopters in Mexico.

What are the average distances and which areas of the country see most use. Is there much work around Mexico City and is the ground infrastructure clogged-up with traffic as it is in London? Are there many heliports across Mexico?

Who are the largest operators and in what sectors do they provide services?

What are some of the interesting incidents/events which have happened in recent years in the helicopter industry in Mexico and by how much has the helicopter population increased over the past 5 years?

The rock, in your blade damage photo, seems to have struck square on the leading edge and then bounced off as there is no underscoring - lucky! I don't know what it is about people throwing things at helicopters but I have heard stories of the same from colleagues all around the world! Is there something about helicopters which causes people to thow rocks at them?

The 'man holding the Agusta' is a brillant photo - well done! We shall call him .. Atlas!

- Gordy

Great photos. Thanks.

[Thud_and_Blunder]

Earl,

[Sad spotter mode on]The rifle looks like an early-model HK G3 to me...[Sad spotter mode off]

[Earl of Rochester]

- T&B

{Intrigued PPRuNer Mode On}

I have to admit that it does look like the G3 but .. I was wondering what Mexico are doing with German Heckler & Koch weapons (surely the US would have insisted on supplying them with M16's) then I discovered that H&K developed the G3 in collaboration with the Spanish military supplier CETME and it began to make sense.

Thanks, or should that be gracias!

Earl

http://www.hkpro.com/image/g3-g36.jpg

Heckler & Koch G3 Battle Rifle (top) and G36 (below)

{Intrigued PPRuNer Mode Off}

[Hell Man]

Blender P, you fly like someone with over 3,000 hours but ... did you land into wind? ;)

Thankfully you don't have to do those crazy 'reverse' take offs that some European countries require for rooftop departures - mad!

Safe flyin dude! :ok:

HM

http://www.airguitar.com.au/Devil%20Skull_small2.jpg

[XV666]

Thankfully you don't have to do those crazy 'reverse' take offs that some European countries require for rooftop departures - mad!

What: the rooftop departures that those crazy American manufacturers certify, and put into their Flight Manuals :rolleyes:

BP,

Great shots :cool:

[expatron]

...I was wondering what Mexico are doing with German Heckler & Koch weapons....

European weapons have been used by the Mexican Army and Air Force for a long time, we like them more than the americans, so I think those weapons are going to be around for a while,

Cheers,

[Hell Man]

Originally Posted By: Heli

"What: the rooftop departures that those crazy American manufacturers certify, and put into their Flight Manuals?"

Yes - those ones.

http://automotivestickers.com/store/media/ss_size3/Sombrero.jpg

[Yellow & Blue Baron]

Well done Hell Man! They were probably put there because of the European regulations!

To The Earl of Rochester!

Some more Mexican information for you:

http://mypisamba6.com/uploads/speedyman2/avatars/small_speedy_gonzales_0.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/helipilot/.Pictures/vistasaereas/Optima.jpg (javascript:openCurrentImage())

Rooftop pad belonging to the Torre Optima building

http://homepage.mac.com/helipilot/.Pictures/vistasaereas/Reforma.jpg (javascript:openCurrentImage())

The Torre Mayor Helipad

http://homepage.mac.com/helipilot/.Pictures/vistasaereas/Adela.jpg (javascript:openCurrentImage())

Televista's Bell 407 over the station's headquarters

http://homepage.mac.com/helipilot/.Pictures/vistasaereas/ProhibidoE.jpg (javascript:openCurrentImage())

Single engine Astar lands at a downtown fuel station (Pemex) to uplift an injured policeman. (What great freedom!).

http://homepage.mac.com/helipilot/.Pictures/vistasaereas/412CU.jpg (javascript:openCurrentImage())

Bell 412 belonging to the same organization as the first B407 appearing in your first post - over flying the stadium which hosted the 1968 Olympics

Greetings from a wet Sweden!

YBB
http://www.icelandexpress.is/is/upload/images/iceland_express/destinations/swedish-flag-67x.jpg

[Earl of Rochester]

A grey Panther departs a city square in Mexico City after the annual military parade:

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/3/3/5/1787533.jpg (http://www.pprune.org/photo/Mexico---Navy/Eurocopter-AS-565MB-Panther/1787533/L/&sid=7fce01696c40ff2d00297813e052c025)

AS565MB Panther departs the Zocalo Mexico City Sept 2010

[Sebastian-PGP]

European weapons have been used by the Mexican Army and Air Force for a long time, we like them more than the americans, so I think those weapons are going to be around for a while,

This would explain the proclivity for these firearms to end up in the hands of cartels. Contrary to what the hoplophobes and the media (but I repeat myself) will tell you, they're not coming from Uncle Billy's gun store in AZ. They're coming from the 120K or so deserters from the Mexican armed forces and police depts in the last decade or so who often forget to turn their rifles back in when they decide to quit their $300/month jobs to go work for the cartels for ten times as much. The insanity won't stop until the farcical War on (Some) Drugs comes to a close.

Mexico City looks beautiful from 800ft AGL. A huge, expansive city, the modern looking "downtown" area is far more expansive than I would have thought. Looks lovely.

If you're flying around there, how are the safety concerns vis a vis kidnapping, people shooting at your aircraft? I can see why in the north you'd need an armed guard with you as an ex-pat flyer, how about in Mexico City? Looks pretty docile...

[expatron]

:ugh:...They're coming from the 120K or so deserters from the Mexican armed forces and police depts in the last decade or so who often forget to turn their rifles back

First at all 95% of the deserters don't take their guns with them, secondly, most of the confiscated "rifles" are AK47, M16 and R15 no FALs or GALs, Mexico City is very safe to fly over, so don't worry nobody will shoot at you :cool:.

[BlenderPilot]

This would explain the proclivity for these firearms to end up in the hands of cartels. Contrary to what the hoplophobes and the media (but I repeat myself) will tell you, they're not coming from Uncle Billy's gun store in AZ. They're coming from the 120K or so deserters from the Mexican armed forces and police depts in the last decade or so who often forget to turn their rifles back in when they decide to quit their $300/month jobs to go work for the cartels for ten times as much. The insanity won't stop until the farcical War on (Some) Drugs comes to a close.

Mexico City looks beautiful from 800ft AGL. A huge, expansive city, the modern looking "downtown" area is far more expansive than I would have thought. Looks lovely.

If you're flying around there, how are the safety concerns vis a vis kidnapping, people shooting at your aircraft? I can see why in the north you'd need an armed guard with you as an ex-pat flyer, how about in Mexico City? Looks pretty docile...

From a Mexico City police Helicopter pilot, Nobody is going to shoot at your helicopter, and the city is pretty safe, just like any other large Megalopolis in the world it has it's quirks, but it's a lot safer than some places like Philadelphia or Camden New Jersey! hahaha! I've lived here for many years and the only time I have been robbed has been in Rome and Africa . . . . .

As for the 120k desserters, they don't take their guns with them, trust me, there are much better guns out there.

[Earl of Rochester]

-Blender Pilot

Do you have any photos of Mexican Police helicopters you can share with us?

Earl

http://images.dailyme.com/assets/2010090200000940.jpg

B206 locating a marijuana field (Additional info welcome)

[Sebastian-PGP]

First at all 95% of the deserters don't take their guns with themYou know this how?

What, you think the way underpaid guy taking off to go work for a drug cartel is going to make sure to sign his rifle back into the quartermaster's supply room on the way out the door?

He probably asks them to forward his mail too. :ugh:

, secondly, most of the confiscated "rifles" are AK47, M16 and R15 no FALs or GALs, Mexico City is very safe to fly over, so don't worry nobody will shoot at you http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/cool.gif.I'm sure it is safe, but I wonder where people think M16s (and the explosives, anti armor weaponry, and other decidedly military in nature materials they're using that certainly aren't available at Joe's Gun Shop) are coming from if not from deserters from the army. Corruption of that sort is, along with our ridiculous drug prohibitionist policies here in the US, the fuel for the virtual civil war going on south of the border.

ETA: why take them with you when you can just go "shopping" (http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2010/09/state-police-arsenal-raided-in.html) and steal them as you need them?

[Yellow & Blue Baron]

Earl

I think this is Mexican Police:

http://www.chessbase.com/news/2006/mexico06.jpg

Also ...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/Mexican_BO-105_Bolkow_helicopter_fires_2.75_inch_high-explosive_rockets_at_the_ex-USS_Connolly_(DD_979).jpg/800px-Mexican_BO-105_Bolkow_helicopter_fires_2.75_inch_high-explosive_rockets_at_the_ex-USS_Connolly_(DD_979).jpg

Mexico Navy BO105 firing 2.75 inch high explosive rockets

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2007/11/06/mex372.jpg

Helicopter over El Progreso after floods

YBB
http://www.icelandexpress.is/is/upload/images/iceland_express/destinations/swedish-flag-67x.jpg

[expatron]

You know this how?

In most of the forces you don't go home carrying on your rifle, and that's the case of the Mexican Army and Police. (they cannot even wear the uniform when they are not on duty)

Corruption?

Yes a lot. And that remind me one day back in 1999 when together with an US government agency intercept a weapons smuggling operation and guess what? some of the guys arrested were police officers working for an american county. (so, not only the mexicans :E)

Mexican Army or Police weapons?

Too old and unsophisticated for the cartels :=.

Weapons from Joe's gun shop?

You are right, most of the guns are comming from Asia (but not only from there ;))

I hope you enjoy your time in Mexico as much as I have enjoyed my time in your country :ok:

[Aser]

Any info about this?

Latin American Herald Tribune - Eight Dead in Mexico Helicopter Crash (http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=372454&CategoryId=14091)

VERACRUZ, Mexico – Eight people were killed when a helicopter owned by a contractor for state oil monopoly Petroleos Mexicanos crashed in a municipality of the Mexican Gulf coast state of Veracruz, local authorities said.

The incident occurred Friday afternoon in the Veracruz municipality of Las Choapas, at some 600 kilometers (370 miles) east of the nation’s capital, where a Bell helicopter went down carrying eight employees – two pilots and six mechanics – of the Heliservicio Campeche firm.

According to a report by civil aviation authorities, the aircraft that took off in Ciudad del Carmen in Campeche state en route to Minatitlan Airport in Veracruz, rose in the air and suddenly crashed to the ground.

Authorities said that the company provides services to Pemex for transporting personnel to oil platforms in Campeche Sound.

Emergency management officials and army soldiers found the bodies at the scene of the accident.

Elsewhere, a private plane belonging to Veracruz businessman Bernardo Ruiz skidded off the runway early Friday from Gen. Heriberto Jara International Airport at the port of Veracruz.

According to official reports, the plane’s landing gear was damaged, which caused it to go off the runway but without harming either the pilot or the single passenger.

Last week a light plane with six passengers and two pilots aboard went missing after taking off from the Canticas airport in Minatitlan.

Flying in that aircraft of the Alfe air-taxi company were six executives of the Coppel department-store chain plus the two pilots, whose bodies have not yet been found.

Regars
Aser

[BlenderPilot]

Just heard that the Bell 212 that crashed had some sort of world record for the highest time helicopter in operation today.

Nobody knows why they crashed, witnesses say it exploded or caught fire in midair.

Regards.

[Shell Management]

Another reason for more oil companies to go the extra mile and retire old airframes.

The end justifies the means. Mark Stevens, Shell Aviation air safety and global projects director, says: “We have proven statistically that OGP members have a better accident rate than the oil & gas industry as a whole, and active members of the ASC maintain a still-lower one.

Rotor & Wing Magazine :: The Extra Mile?? (http://www.aviationtoday.com/rw/commercial/offshore/The-Extra-Mile_66757.html)

[Earl of Rochester]

Eurocopter to Create 10,000 New Jobs in Mexico

Toluca, Mexico - October 29, 2010

During a visit to Eurocopter's proposed production and support premesis in Toluca, Mexico today, EADS chief Louis Gallois stated that Eurocopter shall be investing up to 400 million USD in aviation development programs in Mexico, an investment he said would result in the creation of 10,000 new jobs.

Gallois acknowledged the recent order from Mexico's Department of National Defence for 12 Cougar EC725 helicopters stating that this was an example of the growing cooperation between Mexico and EADS.

http://www.aviationnews.eu/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/EC725-Mexico.jpg

Report: México | Inversión de Eurocopter generará hasta 10 mil empleos (http://vuelolibre.tv/index.php/breves-de-la-aviacion/1782-mexico-inversion-de-eurocopter-generara-hasta-10-mil-empleos)

[Earl of Rochester]

Mexico City - Thursday November 11th

The US Government has donated additional Bell 412 EP type helicopters to the Mexican Air Force.

http://www.key.aero/central/images/news/1312.jpg

This donation is part of the US Government's aid program for combating drug trafficking and organized crime. Additional helicopters including the feared 'Black Hawk' are also due to be delivered in the coming months.

Google Translate (http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=es&tl=en&u=http://www.milenio.com/node/573423)

[Aser]

Bell 412 XA-HSI pictures after dithing:
Rescate xa-hsi (http://www.slideshare.net/AserMartinez/rescate-xahsi)

Regards
Aser

[Hell Man]

Looks like the two left forward floats failed - otherwise the airfame might have been re-used.

Was this a Bristow bird?

[Earl of Rochester]

Photographer Captures Remarkable Image from Helicopter in Mexico

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/11/23/article-1332199-0C2EF664000005DC-88_964x610.jpg

Life imitating art! This remarkable image shows a colony of Caribbean flamingos spontaneously arranging themsevles into the shape of a giant flamingo!

Story here: Bird's eye view: Nature's way of imitating art as flamingos create remarkable image | Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1332199/Birds-eye-view-Natures-way-imitating-art-flamingos-create-remarkable-image.html#ixzz16Icq2hSG)

[Earl of Rochester]

Mexico City, 26 Nov 2010

US GOVERNMENT DONATES 3 UH60M BLACKHAWKS TO MEXICO

http://files.air-attack.com/MIL/uh60/uh60_header.jpg

The US Department of State announced today the delivery of three Black Hawk UH-60M helicopters to the Government of Mexico’s Federal Police force (SSP). The helicopters, valued at $64 million, mark the first Merida Initiative aviation delivery to the SSP and will compliment the SSP’s current air fleet by expanding law enforcement operations, allowing for rapid response and increased mobility of law enforcement personnel, provide access to remote and hard to reach regions, and expanding interdiction operations to target illicit activities.

In a bi-national ceremony at Mexico’s Iztapalapa Federal Police force base that marks the first Merida Initiative aviation delivery to the SSP, Ambassador to Mexico Carlos Pascual said, “It is important to recognize that, despite the significant threat transnational organized crimes pose to public security, we also have tools in our arsenal to fight back. Our bilateral relationship, while intangible, is one such tool. These helicopters are another. We will jointly continue to put these tools to best use, and it is through these combined efforts that we will turn the tide against the cartels and provide greater security to both our countries.”

Under the Merida Initiative, the United States has delivered more than $310 million in equipment and training to date with plans to deliver an additional $495 million in equipment and training by the end of 2011.

[Savoia]

MEXICO CITY: Three people died in a helicopter crash in Mexico, the local Public Prosecutor's Office (PGJEM) said Sunday.

PGJEM said the crash occurred on Saturday night in Temoaya mountain range and one of the victims was businessman Juan Armando Hinojosa Jr.

According to the investigations, the tragedy happened when Hinojosa was returning from a lunch with the winner of July 1 presidential elections, Enrique Pena Nieto in his birthplace Atlacomulco, a town in the state of Mexico.

PGJEM said that local authorities at 23:40 local time (0440 GMT) on Saturday night realised the loss of the helicopter with the pilot, copilot and one passenger on it.

The state Rescue Unit started the search of the aircraft and found early Sunday morning the wreckage near the Jiquipilco-Temoaya highway, in Jiquipilco municipality.

Helicopter crash kills 3 in Mexico - Latest - New Straits Times (http://www.nst.com.my/latest/helicopter-crash-kills-3-in-mexico-1.115909#)

[Rotor Work]

From the Aviation Safety Network Website
R.I.P
R W

ASN Aircraft accident 28-JUL-2012 AgustaWestland A-109S "Grand" XA-UQH (http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=147172)


Preliminary reports state that the helicopter, an Augusta 109, carried a crew of two and a passenger, Armando Hinojosa-Garcia, a well known businessman who was involved in the 2012 presidential campaign of Enrique Peña Nieto, recently elected as President of Mexico. No information has been published yet concerning the origin and destination of the flight. The wreckage was found this morning on a hill, "Cerro Alpino", close to the Jiquipilco-Temoaya road, Municipality of Jiquipilco, in the State of Mexico, North of Mexico City.

[Savoia]

Can someone run an "ops normal" check on Blender - hopefully he is not involved.

[Senior Pilot]

I have, and he is fine :ok:

[Savoia]

Thank you SP - and thank God that he is fine.

My condolences to those affected by this accident.

[Heli-News]

http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/wcVxZ0I1TrxLgVGYKswg4g--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD0zNDI7cT04NTt3PTUxMg--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_uk/News/apimages.com/17100503.jpg

People are rescued by helicopter from a truck as flood waters rage in the city of Chihuahua, Mexico, Friday, July 19, 2013. Heavy rains have caused major flooding in the city of Chihuahua, shutting down the airport.

Mexico flooding (http://uk.omg.yahoo.com/photos/mexico-weather-photo-054109219.html)

[Savoia]

Mexican Police Blackhawk Missing

MEXICO CITY (AFP) - Mexican authorities lost contact Thursday with a federal police Black Hawk helicopter that was conducting rescue operations in a village hit by a mudslide, media reported.

The helicopter took a group of people from the devastated south-western mountain village of La Pintada to another community and contact was lost after that, Televisa reported, citing national public security chief Manuel Mondragon y Kalb.

Mexico police chopper missing in storm rescue: Media (http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/world/story/mexico-police-chopper-missing-storm-rescue-media-20130920)