Deliveries of Royal Oman Police H145M have commenced
The first deliveries of Royal Oman Police (ROP) H145M helicopters have commenced. On 6 February 2023, a delivery flight was noted on ADS-B, using callsign “Oman 11”. Fuel stops were made at Dubrovnik (Croatia) and Corfu (Greece).
It can be assumed that the helicopter is now in safe hands of the Royal Oman Police Helicopter Wing that has its main facilities at Muscat/Seeb International Airport.
It is quite likely that the three H145Ms will be replacing the three Agusta A109E, of which two were delivered in 2005 and one in 2011 (the latter having a VIP interior and colour scheme), making them the oldest helicopters in the inventory.
The Aviation Directorate of the Royal Oman Police also comprises a helicopter fire-fighting service for use in areas that are relatively inaccessible to ordinary fire engines as Oman has a vastly mountainous terrain. The Sultanate was one of the first countries in the region to set up this service and several pilots have now been trained to man it. The Aviation Directorate is to use its helicopter fleet for use in the Flying Ambulance service, for fire-fighting and rescue missions, or to provide monitoring and support services for the ROP's other departments using thermal imaging systems.
The following H145Ms are now in the process of delivery or have already been delivered:
The ROP currently operates the following aircraft, divided over the Fixed Wing unit and Helicopter Wing unit. Although all are headquartered in Seeb, they use forward operating bases across the country:
Photo by Alexander Lutz