History is written with an H

Starting 2014 with the inaugural presentation of the H160, Airbus Helicopters is making its corporate transformation visible and unveiling the company’s new brand.

The EC prefix for helicopters will progressively be replaced by the letter H.

The EC135 T3/P3 is now called H135, the differentiation for single- or twin-engines, will no longer be used.

2014, October 20^th

EASA Certification for EC135 P3/T3

With October 20^th, 2014 the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) granted to Airbus Helicopters the Type Certificate for the EC135 P3/T3.

2014, December 9^th

First enhanced H135 (formerly EC135 P3/T3) enters service with Aiut Alpin Dolimites

The world’s newest light-weight twin-engine helicopter, the H135, is now in service with Aiut Alpin Dolomites – a northen Italy based alpine mountain operator.

Aiut Alpin Dolomites operation benefits from enhancements incorporated in this latest veriant of the H135 family, which include significant power reserves, especially for hot-and-high enviroments and an increased maximum take-off weight of 2,980kg.

This enhanced version is available with upgraded engine options: Turbomeca’s Arrius 2B2 “Plus” and Pratt & Whithney Canada’s PWC 206B3. (Reference: Press Release Airbus Helicopters dated 9^th December 2014)

2015, July 30^th

First H135 for offshore wind park operations to HTM in Germany

·         Specially equipped helicopter to be stationed at Emden and other northern bases

·         Deployment along the East Frisian Coast for the maintenance of offshore wind parks

The first H135 (previously known as the EC135 T3) configured for offshore hoisting duties has been delivered to HTM Helicopter Travel Munich GmbH. The H135 expands the HTM’s fleet, which consist of 21 helicopters and 4 business jets. (Reference: Press Release Airbus Helicopters dated July 30^{th ,}2015)

2015, 7^th October

Waypoint Leasing acquire twenty H135s as first lessor for this rotorcraft

At HeliTec, London, 7^th October 2015 – Airbus Helicopters and Waypoint Leasing Ltd. (Ireland) the largest independent helicopter leasing company, announced that they has agreed to acquire up to 20 H145 helicopters over the next three years. (Reference: Airbus Helicopters Press Release)

2015, 30^th October

First Airbus Helicopters final assembly line in China for 100 H135

On October 30^th Airbus Helicopters and Sino-German Ecopark, located in Qingdao, Shandong Province, a Letter of Intend (LOI) to establish a final assembly line for 100 H135 helicopters. This agreement is a major step forward for Airbus Helicopters in China.This agreement is another milestone in the long lasting cooperation between Airbus Helicopters and China, which started 40 years ago. (Reference: Airbus Helicopters Press Release)

2016, January 4^th

4 additional H135 helicopters to LPR in Poland

·         Latest delivery brings total H135 fleet of Polish operator LPR to 27 units

·         New rotorcraft to contact HEMS missions from new LPR bases across Poland

Poland’s public air medical rescue operator LPR (SP ZOZ Lotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe) has received four new H135 (formerly known as EC135 P3) helicopters. This latest delivery brings the total H135 LPR fleet to 27 units.

The agreement for the delivery of four new H135 helicopters to LPR was signed on 4^th August 2015, following a competitive public tender procedure won by Airbus Helicopters. (Reference: Press Release Airbus Helicopters, issue 4^th January 2016)

2016, Febraury 25^th

30^th H135 to ÖAMTC Helicopter Rescue Fleet

ÖAMTC, the Austrian Automobile Club, took on February 25^th February 2016 at Airbus Helicopters factory Donauwörth delivery of its 30^th H135 T3 rescue helicopter. The H135 T3 is equipped with two Turbomeca ARRIUS 2B2 engines, new lateral air intake, upgraded engine software, optimized main rotor, and increased maximum take-off weight of 2.980 kg. To name only some of the high lights of the H135 helicopter.

2016, June 13^th

Chinese consortium acquires 100 H135s from Airbus Helicopters

A Chinese consortium has signed a purchasing contract with a firm order of 100 H135s to be assembled in China over the next 10 years.

This order will lead to the launch of a H135 final assembly line in Quigdao, Shandong Province.

The contract signing ceremony was held at the Great Hall of People, in presence of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and the German Chancellor Angela Merkel. (Reference: Airbus Helicopters Press Release)

2016 November

H135 - Family celebrates its 20th anniversary

Since its LBA approval on 16 June 1996 and its initial delivery to the German rescue flight guard (DRF), the H135 has written history with the serial numbers SN 4005 and 4006 on 31 July 1996. With more than 1200 delivered helicopters, 4 million flight hours and over 300 operators in 75 countries, the H135 is the best-selling light two-engine helicopter in its class. Airbus Helicopters has adapted the H135 over the years to the needs of the operators and the changing mission requirements. With the latest version since December 2014, the EC135 P3/T3 offers over 200 kg more payload capacity and an improved hot & high range. Since autumn 2016, the H135 has been available with the avionics suite "Helionix", whose 4-axis autopilot relieves the pilot and increases flight safety. (Reference: Rotor No. 106 by Airbus Helicopters)

The H135 with the avionics suite "Helionix" has a modified cabin configuration to accommodate the Helionix suite. The serial numbers of the H135 start with SN 2000 and higher.

2016 November 15^th

EASA approval of the new Helionix cockpit for H135

On 15 November, the EASA approved the new Helionix cockpit for the H135. The Helionix Suite is a user-friendly man-machine interface with Autopilot. The Helionix suite is available for the following Airbus Helicopters helicopters: H175, H160, H145 and H135. To date, the helicopters with this equipment have completed more than 40,000 flight hours.

Reference: Rotor Nr.106 by Airbus Helicopters

2016 November 22^nd

EC135T2+ final delivery for Australian military training program

·         Full fleet of 15 helicopters delivered only two years after contract signature

·         H135 Family confirmed as a reference for military helicopter training

Donauwörth, November 22^nd 2016 Airbus Helicopter has achieved Factory Acceptance of the last six EC135T2+ for the Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS) for the Australian Force (ADF), completing on-time deliveries of the full fleet of 15 helicopters.

Boing Defence Australia is the prime contractor for the new training system, partnered by Thales Australia who supplies the flight simulators and synthetic training devices.

Airbus Helicopters is proud to know that Boing has accepted now all 15 of their new EC135T2+, on time and on budget, for their leading helicopter aircrew training system for the ADF.

Reference: Press Release Airbus Helicopters

2016, December 8^th

First UKMFTS H135 Juno and H145 Jupiter arrive in Britain

Oxford, the H135 Juno and the H145 Jupiter, the first two aircraft in the 32-strong fleet of UK Military Training System (UKMFTS) helicopters, marking the start of a new era in helicopter military flight training in the UK.

The aircraft will allow UK armed forces to benefit from conducting initial training on a twin-engine, full glass cockpit, the H135 and H145 family of aircraft are equipped with Airbus Helicopters advanced avionics suite Helionix.

Reference: Airbus Helicopters - Press Release

2018, January 29^th

new

1300^th Helicopter from the H135-Family delivered

Airbus Helicopters has delivered out of Donauwörth the 1300^th helico0pter of the H135-family, this underlines the worldwide success of this multipurpose, lightweight, twin-engine helicopter.The global fleet of the H135 has accumulated per today more than 4,5 million flight hours since the entry into service of the first helicopter in 1996.

The integration of Airbus Helicopter’s Helionix avionics suite in 2016 underlines the constant evolution of the H135. The H135 helicopters equipped with Helionix avionics start with the serial number SN 2000 and higher.

Reference: Airbus Helicopters – Press Release