Robinson Helicopter CEO Frank Robinson has convinced the El Salvador National Police force that they should downshift to piston-powered helicopters. The OEM’s dealer in capital San Salvador, Regilio Pena of Helica SA, brought the director of police over
to Torrance, Calif., where Robinson rode along with him on a night flight in an R44. “When the director saw how well it worked at night,” Pena said, “he went back and convinced the police that the R44 was the right aircraft.

“The pilots did not want a piston helicopter as they were all ex-Air Force, where they flew turbines. But they could afford to fly their three turbine helicopters for only two hours a week. Now, they can fly for two hours every night and keep the turbines on call.”