The purchase of the new helicopters has been hotly debated for two years, after a crash of one of the department’s current Dauphin helicopters killed state police personnel on board. There was general agreement that the aging helicopters need to be replaced, but there were arguments over how to do it, where the money would come from, and what was needed to improve safety.
The approved contract buys six new helicopters now, and has an option for six more between 2011 and 2013.
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3 comments:
Come on --- when will ANYONE start asking the question that I've had for years--- "how can ONE helicopter cost $12 MILLION DOLLARS?!" Do you know how big of a house you could buy for that money? How many Ferrari's you could buy? We are waaaay past the point of INVENTING the technology for these machines. High school students can put their hands on the components of all-weather radar and I'll bet it wouldn't cost THEM $2 million dollars. Who is getting paid THAT much money for a HELICOPTER? And PLEASE --- don't run any stuff past me about "state of the art radar" and "all weather capabilities" or anything else like that. It is ALL well established and well known machinery and technology...ANOTHER example of outrageous spending not being questioned...
Have you even been to Augustawestland's website? The current fleet being used by MSP cost approx $3.5-$5M each and are SMALLER!! Also factor the expense of outfitting these aircraft.
Please do your research before posting comments out of ignorance of a topic you obviously know NOTHING about.
Please re-read the comment. I suppose you were one of the people who actually believed a hammer costs $750 and a toilet seat cost $1200? Just because some one SAYS this is what something costs, doesn't mean it REALLY does. Ever wonder why the executives that supply these materials are very rich?? Maybe charging $12 million dollars for a helicopter may have something to do with it. Lemming.
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