Airbus Helicopters
H125 helicopters from Grand Prairie-based Airbus Helicopters used in combatting mosquitoes.
About 45 species of mosquitoes call Pasco County, Fla., home. How best for the county to fight mosquito-born diseases such as the West Nile and Zika viruses?
Bring in the helicopters - and their ability to spray aerially against the pests. "The H125 is the helicopter of choice for mosquito control," Airbus Helicopters, based in Grand Prairie, says.
Airbus announced it completed the sale of two new Airbus H125 helicopters to Pasco County, bringing the total number of H125s used for mosquito control in Florida to 13, Airbus said.
Airbus touts the aircraft’s increased payload capacity, speed, and safety features. The helicopters are equipped with Isolair spray systems, and AgNav navigation equipment.
“In Florida, controlling mosquito populations is daily, year-round work, and our aerial tools are invaluable in the work that we do,” Adriane Rogers, director of Pasco County Mosquito Control, said in a release.
Pasco County has also chosen Airbus with a full support contract for the H125 fleet.
In addition to Pasco County’s two H125, the mosquito control district in Brevard County operates two H125, Lee County operates six, Florida Keys operates two, and Charlotte County operates one H125, which also serves the Sheriff’s Office. More than 1,400 H125s are currently in-service worldwide, Airbus said.
Airbus Helicopters estimates it has a market share of nearly 65% of the U.S. helicopter market.