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GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas, Pasco County Mosquito Control District in Florida has a new weapon in its fight against mosquitoes — two new Airbus H125s.
Pasco County is home to roughly 45 different species of mosquitoes, and aerial spraying is one of the most effective ways to fight mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile and Zika viruses. The H125 is the helicopter of choice for mosquito control, with this delivery bringing the total number of H125s in Florida alone that support this unique utility mission to 13.
“In Florida, controlling mosquito populations is daily, year-round work, and our aerial tools are invaluable in the work that we do,” said Adriane Rogers, director of Pasco County Mosquito Control. “We are always looking for the best, most efficient and most cost effective ways to fight mosquitoes, and the H125 is the solution.”
Pasco County has also entrusted Airbus with a full nose-to-tail HCare support contract for the H125 fleet. The five-year agreement covers both H125 helicopters for unscheduled parts removals.
Operators like Pasco County credit the aircraft’s increased payload capacity, speed and enhanced safety measures with its popularity. The aircraft features improved Isolair and AgNav equipment for conducting mosquito control missions.
“Thanks to its power and versatility, the H125 has emerged as the machine of choice for places such as Florida that must work year-round to protect its population from mosquitoes,” said Will Fulton, Head of Marketing for Airbus Helicopters Inc. “In Florida and elsewhere, mosquitoes are more than a nuisance; they’re a health and safety concern, and the H125 is a key resource to support this mission and help keep communities safe.”
In addition to Pasco County’s two H125, the mosquito control district in Brevard County operate two H125, Lee County operates six, Florida Keys (Monroe County) operates two, and Charlotte County also operates one H125, which also serves the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
More than 1,400 H125s are currently in-service worldwide. In addition to its power and versatility, the H125 is known for its advanced safety features and low maintenance costs. It features dual hydraulics, dual channel engine FADEC, a crash-resistant fuel system and glass-panel cockpit displays that reduce pilot workload.
Airbus Helicopters Inc. is the leading supplier of helicopters in the United States, with a market share of nearly 65% and a presence dating back more than 50 years. A team of some 725 employees operates local production and completion facilities for the H125 and UH-72 Lakota aircraft in Columbus, Mississippi, and provides world-class training, aftermarket support, and technical assistance from Grand Prairie, Texas, for the North American regional in-service fleet of nearly 3,100 helicopters.