Brnik - A new police helicopter, an AgustaWestland AW169, entered service with the airborne police on Thursday. It will be mainly deployed for search and rescue missions, and for medical transports.

Worth almost EUR 14 million, the ten-seat helicopter, based out of Brnik airport, can reach a maximum altitude of 4,500 metres and a top speed of 300 km/h. Its maximum range is 800 kilometres.

This is the second helicopter of the same type acquired by police and two more will be purchased in the next few years under a public tender that is already under way.

Dejan Kink, the head of the police airborne unit, said it had finally dawned on decision-makers that it is better to have the same type of helicopter in a fleet since they have interchangeable spare parts and are therefore cheaper to service.

It also requires the same type of licence from pilots and less training.

The helicopter is equipped for all kinds of police tasks except traffic control since it does not have a camera. Due to its characteristics it is particularly suitable for mountain rescue.

Mountain rescue and medical flights are conducted by the army and police in Slovenia and Interior Minister Aleš Hojs said he was in favour of keeping things this way. He said the police were now better equipped than ever.