Aircraft Destined for Gendarmerie and Coast Guard

Fábrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA), Argentina’s principal aircraft manufacturer, delivered a further three Agusta Bell AB-206B1 helicopters to the Argentine Army on 18 April.

Despite two of the aircraft being destined for operation with the Gendarmerie and one with the Coast Guard, all three have received Army serial numbers, since it is this service that will be responsible for managing the certification process with the Joint Airworthiness Directorate. The Army will conduct the entire certification process until the Acceptance Certificate is issued: it will also be responsible for the aircraft’s maintenance until they are formally transferred to their respective services.

Of the total quantity of 20 AB-206B1 purchased from the Italian government, three will be operated by the Gendarmerie and two by the Coast Guard. The remainder will go to the Army, which already operates four of them.

Santiago Rivas and Florencia Lucero Heguy