The governments of the United States and Costa Rica presented the Aerial Training Specialized Program directed to personnel of the Aerial Surveillance Service in Costa Rica; the program has the objective of strengthening the security and tools for the Ministry of Public Security.

The program is part of multiple cooperation agreements between both countries. The presentation took place in Aerial Surveillance facility in Alajuela where the four UH-1ST choppers recently donated by the United States, as part of the Aerial Training program, were on exhibit.

President Carlos Alvarado, the Minister of Security Michael Soto, the director of Air Surveillance Juan Luis Vargas, the ambassador of the United States to Costa Rica, Sharon Day, Richard H. Glenn is Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), and the representative of this entity in Costa Rica, Christopher Harris, were all part of this activity.

The United States will be in charge of the aircrafts for two years, caring for their maintenance, purchasing necessary parts and training pilots and aerial maintenance technicians of the Air Surveillance Service; the Ministry of Public Security must cover all fuel expenses.

“Our assistance began way before the arrival of these helicopters and it will continue for a lot more than two years”. This is a holistic program focused on bringing the levels of logistics, maintenance and management to the next level and support the long-term success of the Air Surveillance Service”, commented ambassador Sharon Day.