Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 22
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
The Islamic Republic has purchased a new US-made Bell 412 helicopter, Mahmoud Azin, the head of Iran's Helicopters Company (IHC) said, the Islamic Republic's Fars news agency reported Nov. 22.
The helicopter is scheduled to enter the company's fleet in next two weeks, Azin said.
It should be noted that the IHC which has some 25 helicopters is affiliated to the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).
The Bell 412 is a twin-engine utility helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter (American rotorcraft manufacturer). The development began in the late 1970s with two Bell 212 being converted into 412 prototypes. An advanced four blade main rotor with a smaller diameter replaced the 212's two blade rotor. A Bell 412 prototype first flew in August 1979. The initial model was certified in January 1981 with the deliveries commencing in the same month.
The Bell 412 is used by private and commercial operators, it is particularly popular in the oil industries, military and law enforcement sectors.
Azin said that the Islamic Republic has purchased at least ten new helicopters in the last three years.
The IHC earlier displayed four brand new US-made helicopters it purchased through third parties, offering them as proof that the country could evade international sanctions over its disputed nuclear program.
For example, 4-seat R44 Raven Series Helicopters were displayed during an exhibition in Kish Island in the Persian Gulf.
Iran's civil aviation agency announced the purchase of the four helicopters in September, saying they would be used for training purposes. It did not provide details on who sold the aircraft.
The US firms are forbidden from doing business with Iran and the Treasury Department has aggressively pursued violators. The U.N. Security Council has also imposed tough sanctions on Iran. It was not clear if the purchase of the helicopters constituted a violation of either the US or international sanctions.
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