ARINC Delivers Huey II 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 fleetARINC 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,” stated 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.