Helicopteros Mexicanos
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Goodwood, Sussex, UK
Helicopteros Mexicanos
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
* * *
Bell 407 XA-SAV of Comision Federal de Electricidad landing at the Bell service centre at Mexico City (MEX) July 2010
Bell 407 XA-??? PPRuNed from this thread: http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/169562-female-helicopter-pilots-3.html evidently flown by a Capt. Talia Santiago
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)?
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,081
Likes: 189
From: Redding CA, or on a fire somewhere
Ahhhh the glamor of it all.....In reality, most spots are like this:
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.
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.
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: N20,W99
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 . . . .
Here is a video I took recently here in Mexico City only 3 minutes, I especially like the landing part . . . .
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,119
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From: N20,W99
VIP 139
Locals decided to throw rocks at a police helicopter with rotors turning
Newest VIP 139
EC-225
*
Veracruz State Bell 430
*
Mexico City Police
*
Skydiving Instructor (real photo taken by me)
Another VIP 139
**
Locals decided to throw rocks at a police helicopter with rotors turning
Newest VIP 139
EC-225
*Veracruz State Bell 430
*Mexico City Police
*Skydiving Instructor (real photo taken by me)
Another VIP 139
**
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 264
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From: Goodwood, Sussex, UK
- BlenderPilot
Thanks for the video and photographs!
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.
Thanks for the video and photographs!
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.
Last edited by Earl of Rochester; 7th June 2013 at 10:07.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Goodwood, Sussex, UK
- 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
Heckler & Koch G3 Battle Rifle (top) and G36 (below)
{Intrigued PPRuNer Mode Off}
{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
Heckler & Koch G3 Battle Rifle (top) and G36 (below)
{Intrigued PPRuNer Mode Off}
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 231
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From: US
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!
HM
Thankfully you don't have to do those crazy 'reverse' take offs that some European countries require for rooftop departures - mad!
Safe flyin dude!
HM
Joined: Feb 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
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From: Penzance
Originally Posted by Hell Man
Thankfully you don't have to do those crazy 'reverse' take offs that some European countries require for rooftop departures - mad!
BP,
Great shots
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: 24 N, 54.5 E
...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,
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,
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 190
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From: Linköping, Sweden
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:
Rooftop pad belonging to the Torre Optima building
The Torre Mayor Helipad
Televista's Bell 407 over the station's headquarters
Single engine Astar lands at a downtown fuel station (Pemex) to uplift an injured policeman. (What great freedom!).
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
To The Earl of Rochester!
Some more Mexican information for you:
Rooftop pad belonging to the Torre Optima building
The Torre Mayor Helipad
Televista's Bell 407 over the station's headquarters
Single engine Astar lands at a downtown fuel station (Pemex) to uplift an injured policeman. (What great freedom!).
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
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore
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,
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...
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: 24 N, 54.5 E
...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 backFirst 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
.
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: N20,W99
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...
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...
As for the 120k desserters, they don't take their guns with them, trust me, there are much better guns out there.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 264
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From: Goodwood, Sussex, UK
-Blender Pilot
Do you have any photos of Mexican Police helicopters you can share with us?
Earl
B206 locating a marijuana field (Additional info welcome)
Do you have any photos of Mexican Police helicopters you can share with us?
Earl
B206 locating a marijuana field (Additional info welcome)
Last edited by Earl of Rochester; 4th October 2010 at 18:46. Reason: photo added
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Baltimore
First at all 95% of the deserters don't take their guns with them
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.
, 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 
.
.
ETA: why take them with you when you can just go "shopping" and steal them as you need them?
Last edited by Sebastian-PGP; 5th October 2010 at 01:00.