CARACAS, Venezuela - The Venezuelan Air Force has received a reconditioned AS532UL Cougar helicopter from Eurocopter's plant located in Marseille, France. The aircraft belongs to the Presidential Air Group No. 4, located at the El Libertador airbase in Palo Negro, Aragua.
The maintenance consisted of a total disassembly of components in order to perform a detailed review of the entire aircraft's structure, including the fuselage and the main and tail rotors. Cracks and corrosion were discovered during the inspection.
Three other Cougars have also been sent to the Marseille plant for a major system inspection under a contract valid from 2011-2015. A total of 10 AS532 helicopters will be inspected, nine of which will be shipped to France; one will remain in Venezuela for the inspection, which will be conducted by Venezuelan technicians under the supervision of Eurocopter.
