SHAH ALAM: A LOCAL aviation company, Gading Aero Sdn Bhd, is claiming that its sister company, Galaxy Helicopters Sdn Bhd had received a contract from the Home Ministry to supply a number of Agusta Westland AW139 medium size helicopters to the PDRM’s Air Wing.
Both companies are under the Gading Group, which according to its website is located in Hulu Kelang, Selangor. The group also operate a hangar at Subang airport for its aviation-related operations.
I am using “a number” as the entry at the company’s own website stated two different figures. The page featuring Gading Aero claimed Galaxy Helicopters had received a contract to supply six AW139 helicopters to PDRM.
However on the Galaxy Helicopters page it was stated that “Malaysian Ministry Of Home Affairs awarded Galaxy Helicopters a contract to supply two Agusta Westland AW 139 helicopters for Royal Malaysian Police Air Wing”.
I called the contact number listed on the website and the man who answered said that Galaxy Helicopters indeed received a contract for six AW139 helicopters. However, as I have yet to get an official confirmation on the contract, I will leave it as that.
Industry sources told Malaysian Defence however that the contract for the deal was expected to be signed at the upcoming GPECAsia 2015 exhibition to be held at PWTC on Oct 21 to 23.
It must be noted that another company from the Gading Group, Gading Kasturi Sdn Bhd, was awarded the contract to supply six Airbus Helicopters H120 light helicopter and a single simulator for the RMAF flight training school in Alor Setar. The contract was signed at LIMA 2015.
Analysis
If indeed the contract has been awarded to Galaxy Helicopters, it appears that AgustaWestland had manage to score a coup over its main rival Airbus Helicopters. It was generally expected that PDRM will be getting a new batch of light helicopters from Airbus either a new batch of H125 ( the new name for the Ecureil) or the H135.
The Air Wing operates around 8 Ecureil light helicopters from the 11 it received. The first two was delivered in 1990. Since 2008, the police had stated a requirement for some two dozen or so, light and medium size helicopters for its Air Wing. The medium size helicopter is mainly for troop transport and utility role while the light helicopter is for patrol as well as utility duties as well.
The Air Wing’s lack of troop transport capability was exposed during the Lahad Datu incursion.
As the AW139 is a medium-size twin engine helicopter, the light helicopter requirement remains open and perhaps this will be fulfilled in the future, though this may well be later rather than sooner.
The Air Wing is not expected to have any difficulties in absorbing the AW139s as a number of these machines are already operating in Malaysia, both in the government (APMM and Bomba) and the private sector. A full mission simulator of the AW139 is also operating at the Airod facility in Subang.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (19)
Well its seems our boys will hav a common platform which will ease maintenance and training i guess. Which is a very good thing to my eyes.
I think the police got its first Ecuriels in the early 1990's or the late 1980's. There was a police Ecuriel on static display at the inaugural LIMA. I remember talking to a crew member.
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Yes you are right, the first two was delivered in 1990.
Well it make sense for PUTD to acquire aw149 for its tth requirement.
Ahhh...my teropong buluh does work after all....Things are in such state of flux that I was beginning to doubt the darn teropong buluh...Lets wait for Bomba announcement next...
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Well it will not be a surprise if Bomba buys two AW189, it's basically a done deal already.
Word has it that a czech twin engine aircraft and french twin turboprop aircraft are also on PDRM UUP radar as well as the lighter berethren of AW139.except for the czech aircraft the other types envisaged are in used by both the military and civillian sectors in malaysia
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Yes there is talk about an ATR-size aircraft for troop transport for PDRM, this has re-surfaced following the Lahad Datu incursion. Whether or not funding will be made available is up in the air.
From AS355 to AW139 is big jump.
Technically AW139 is abit too big for PDRM
PDRM will be more use for patrol, search suspect, operation cost should be consider.
H135 or H145 much suitable and saving cost/fuel due to smaller/ligther. also H135 or H145 more country use as police helicopter due to better/bigger front view than AW.
hopefully Polis AW139 will equipment with FLIR and Police mission console.
anyway bigger helicopter can carry more police/special force if mission needed. and for Disaster rescue mission.
hopefully Gov able to provide more budget for operation AW139.
One good example Police Helicopter Integration Mission system.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eDb_n1gZQU
As far as I'm concerned the one
non-military organisation that should get new helos is the MMEA. Yes the police have a requirement for helis but priority should be the MMEA.
After declaring that they didn't need help and that they could manage on their own; the Indonesians have asked for help and a MMEA Bombardier has been assigned. In 1997 we transported 1,500 firemen to Sumatera to help. Apparently, the Indonesians boarded the RMN ships to make sure the passengers were bono fide firemen.
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Actually I was supposed to follow the firemen on board the KD Sri Jarom (if remember correctly) for the 1997 mission. We already got permission from the Navy but we were denied boarding by MKN officers. In the end we drove down to Malacca during the night and took a ferry out to Dumai, arriving earlier than the navy ship! The firemen said walking would be faster than the navy ship. I spend a month shuttling between Pekan Baru and Jambi (which was almost eight hours by road at that time) to cover the firefighting operations. Jambi was the worst affected haze. I remember taking a boat to the AOR of the firemen, almost two hours by boat from Jambi. The haze was so bad we could not even see past the bow of the six foot boat during the trip and back.
Transport plane? WHY?????
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Apparently they did not want to rely on others to fly their troops especially UTK and VAT 69. Apart from personnel, for transport of firearms and ammunition especially to Sabah and Sarawak. Special charter is needed for those currently.
Stupid. Just have a special arrangement with Firefly or something. Make the pilots into Polis Bantuan and kowtim. Moving firearms and Class 1 Explosives is nothing la. Haiyo...in buang duit tahu.
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The current practice is to appoint MTO...