Major Cleriston Oliveira, head of operational security management at CIOPAER tells Rotor about using the H135 to reinforce public security in Ceará State. BRAZIL “Public security in the most extreme conditions” In 2021, CIOPAER also assumed a completely new mission, flying 144 hours to airlift COVID-19 vaccines to remote locations. read more read more read more “Our unit is responsible for providing aerial support for all public security and civil defence operations in the state of Ceará. We use the H135 for law enforcement operations, fire fighting, SAR missions and inter-hospital air medical transport,” explains Major Cleriston Oliveira, head of operational security management at CIOPAER (the public security agency of Ceará State) and himself a pilot of the H125, H135, and H145. In 2021, CIOPAER also assumed a completely new mission, when it flew a total of 144 hours to airlift COVID-19 vaccines to where they were most urgently needed. After 26 years devoted to serving the local population, CIOPAER notched up 893 flight hours during 899 missions in the first six months of 2021 alone, the majority of which were patrols and support missions for law enforcement operations. “On 21 April we received a callout following an accident at a waterfall in the south of our state. A youth aged around 18 had fallen from a height of nearly 50 metres and access was very difficult,” the Major recalls. “While fire fighters were able to administer first aid, it was impossible to lift them to safety. When we arrived on the scene, the H135 showed just how much power it has: our crew members rappelled to the ground, hooked up the victim and hoisted them aboard. The helicopter’s stability played a vital role to ensure the safety and success of the mission. We airlifted the patient to hospital and in the end they managed to recover quickly from their injuries.” The state of Ceará is located near the equator and combines a spectacular coastline with jungle, mangroves, tropical forest and high temperatures year round. However, it also has altitudes ranging from 500 metres inland to more than 1,000 metres in the Baturité mountain range, which made operations somewhat difficult with their previous helicopters. First H135 Helionix in Law Enforcement “With the arrival of the H135, we were able to carry out these types of operations with much more power and better manoeuvrability. That power, together with its characteristics and size, makes it a very versatile and reliable helicopter when we need to land or perch in very confined and unstable spaces,” says Oliveira. In 2018, CIOPAER also became the first operator of the H135 to use Helionix for law enforcement missions. When asked about his experience with the new avionics suite, Major Oliveira highlights that, “Helionix really helps to reduce workloads and to manage the different aircraft systems at a glance using the flight navigation display. That means we can focus on the task at hand with greater flight safety. In addition, the system monitors the engine and general aircraft performance and informs if any of the parameters are abnormal. “This helicopter has helped save many lives in the state of Ceará and has also helped us to improve our operational capability. Congratulations on your excellent aircraft and your outstanding evolution over the years,” Oliveira concludes. “Public security in the most extreme conditions”