PH-PLA Aerospatiale AS.350B2 Ecureuil c/n 2878 - ex KLPD - heliport Emmen, Holland - September 2002

The Eurocopter AS 350B2 is a single-engined utility helicopter that can accommodate up to 7 passengers. Development of the AS 350 Ecureuil started in the early 70s under the Aérospatiale banner. The first flight of an AvcoLycoming LTS101-powered machine took place on 27 June 1994. The second prototype was fitted with an Arriel 1A and took to the air on 14/02/1975. Certification (with a Turboméca Arriel 1B turboshaft powerplant) was achieved in October 1977. The single-engined AS 350B2, powered with a Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 engine was certified in April 1989. The AS 350 is marketed in North America as the AStar or SuperStar. The helicopter divisions of MBB from Germany and Aérospatiale from France merged in January 1992 to form the Eurocopter Group.

In 1995, two AS.350B2 were ordered for the Dutch Police. Eurocopter France built these helicopters and AS.350B2 Ecureuil s/n 2878 was test flown as F-WQDC in June 1995. After being reregistered F-WQDL the airframe was delivered to Maastricht Airport on 07 July 1995. The Ecureuil was registered on 04/09/1995 with Schreiner Aviation Group BV as PH-PLA. On 31 October 1995, the PH-PLA was registered to the Korps landelijke Politie Diensten. Ecureuil PH-PLA was operated with the KLPD-Korps Landelijke Politie Diensten out of Amsterdam-Schiphol. The Dutch Police operated the Ecureuil not only on patrol and inspection flights: equipped with a fire fighting system with high-pressure gun the Ecureuil was also used as a fire fighter. In early 2002 the Ecureuils were offered for sale and then sold to Heli-Holland. On 17 April 2002, the Ecureuil PH-PLA & PH-PLB arrived on delivery to Heli-Holland at their heliport near Emmen in the Netherlands. On 29 May 2002, AS.350B2 Ecureuil PH-PLA was registered with Heli-Holland BV, Emmer-Compascuum. The PH-PLA was operated in Finland on a long-term lease contract, before it was sold in Sweden and registered SE-JHL with Malmskogens Helikopterleasing AB on 14 March 2003. The registration PH-PLA was cancelled the same day. On 11 September 2007, the SE‑JHL was registered with Tampereen Helikopterikeskus, Orivesi, Finland.