Airbus Helicopters As332 Super Puma

Twin Rotorcraft

The Airbus Helicopters AS332 Super Puma is a four-bladed, twin-turbine medium helicopter that has become the workhorse of offshore oil operations, search-and-rescue missions, and law enforcement across five continents. Introduced in 1978 as an enlarged, more powerful evolution of the SA330 Puma, the Super Puma was designed to carry heavier loads farther and faster than its predecessor, with a maximum takeoff weight exceeding 20,000 pounds and seating for up to 24 passengers in high-density configurations. Its twin Turbomeca Makila engines provide exceptional power reserves and single-engine safety margins, critical for operations over water and in mountainous terrain where autorotation options are limited. The AS332 family earned its reputation in the North Sea oil fields, where its range, payload, and all-weather capability made it the preferred platform for ferrying crews to offshore rigs in some of the world's harshest operating environments. The type's spacious cabin, large sliding doors, and external cargo hook also made it a natural fit for emergency medical services, firefighting, and utility work. Law enforcement agencies, including major U.S. county sheriffs' departments, operate Super Pumas for aerial patrol, tactical support, and disaster response, valuing the type's speed (cruise around 140 knots), endurance, and ability to carry specialized mission equipment. The cockpit features full IFR avionics and, in later variants, glass displays and autopilot systems that reduce pilot workload during long over-water transits. While the Super Puma has logged millions of flight hours worldwide, the type has faced scrutiny following several high-profile accidents in offshore operations, leading to temporary groundings and airworthiness directives focused on the main gearbox and tail rotor systems. Airbus Helicopters responded with design improvements in the H215 and H225 successors, but the AS332 remains in widespread service with operators who have invested in the platform's proven capabilities. SkyMeter has tracked 123 flights across 41 airframes and 5 operators, with COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, C/O SHERIFFS DEPT the largest observed operator.