Pasco County Mosquito Control District in Florida has received two new Airbus H125 helicopters, which will be used in its aerial spraying operations.
Airbus describes the H125 as “the helicopter of choice for mosquito control”. There are now 13 H125s performing this role in Florida alone. In addition to Pasco County’s two aircraft, the mosquito control district in Brevard County operates two, Lee County operates six, Florida Keys (Monroe County) operates two and Charlotte County operates one, which also serves the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
“In Florida, controlling mosquito populations is daily, year-round work, and our aerial tools are invaluable in the work that we do,” said Adriane Rogers, director of Pasco County Mosquito Control. “We are always looking for the best, most efficient and most cost-effective ways to fight mosquitoes, and the H125 is the solution.”
Pasco County has signed a five-year HCare support contract with Airbus which covers both H125s for unscheduled parts removals.
“Thanks to its power and versatility, the H125 has emerged as the machine of choice for places such as Florida that must work year-round to protect its population from mosquitoes,” said Will Fulton, head of marketing for Airbus Helicopters Inc. “In Florida and elsewhere, mosquitoes are more than a nuisance; they’re a health and safety concern, and the H125 is a key resource to support this mission and help keep communities safe.”
Pasco County is home to around 45 different species of mosquitoes, and aerial spraying is one of the most effective ways to control them and the diseases they spread, such as the West Nile and Zika viruses.
