Title
Federal Law Enforcement Contraband Forfeiture Trust Fund Funding for GPD Helicopter Upgrade (B)
Explanation
GPD participates in the Joint Aviation Unit with the Alachua County Sheriff's Office (ACSO) and has operated a military surplus 1968 Hughes OH-6 helicopter for the past twelve (12) years. Replacement parts needed to keep this helicopter operational are now obsolete and anticipated maintenance costs through 2011 are projected to exceed $175,000. Based on recommendations from the Joint Aviation Unit Maintenance Technician, GPD's contract flight trainer Scott Lunsford, and projected maintenance costs, GPD requested and received a military surplus 1970 Bell OH-58 helicopter in July 2006. This helicopter is the same type operated by ACSO, which will standardize the helicopter fleet for the Joint Aviation Unit and simplify maintenance and training.
The Bell OH-58 helicopter will require a replacement C-20 engine at a cost of $99,600.00. It will also require maintenance and equipment upgrades with a projected cost of $128,127.99, for a total of $227,727.99 before this helicopter can be used operationally. The maintenance work will include overhauling the transmission, mast assembly and main rotor, and the equipment upgrades will include painting, avionics and installation of law enforcement radios and equipment.
In July 2007, the 1968 Hughes OH-6 helicopter was sold for $156,526.51. Coastal Helicopters, Inc. (the suggested vendor for the OH-58 helicopter upgrade) will give GPD a $40,000.00 credit for eight (8) used C-18 helicopter engines. This model of helicopter engine cannot be used in GPD's Bell OH-58 helicopter. The engines have little or no commercial value since their useful flight-hour life has been expended. With the $40,000.00 credit applied to the cost of the new engine, maintenance and upgrades for the 1970 Bell OH-58 helicopter, the actual cost to place this helicopter into operation will be $187,727.99. The net cost to the City af...
Click here for full text