Helicopters Airbus Helicopters unveils new H145 at Heli-Expo 2019

The announcement was made during the Heli-Expo 2019 in Atlanta, United States. It sees a new and innovative five-bladed rotor being installed to the multi-mission aircraft. Moreover, the useful load of the helicopter has been increased by 150 kg.

“We’re extremely happy to be able to showcase the new H145 to our customers here in Atlanta as this upgrade owes a lot to the feedback they have provided us over the years about the aircraft,” said Bruno Even, Airbus Helicopters CEO. “Our teams have worked hard to quickly bring to the market a set of innovations that we believe will contribute to the success of our customers’ operations. It is their trust in the H145 and all its predecessor variants over the last decades that have made it the fantastic helicopter it has become today, and I want to thank them for their continuous support.”

With the five-bladed rotor, the H145 is now allowed to take off with a maximum weight (MTOW) of 3,800kg. The useful load is now equivalent to the aircraft´s empty weight. This new rotor design will furthermore improve the accessibility for maintenance services. Also, crew and passengers will benefit from the improved ride comfort.

Airbus Helicopters also stated that the H145 would feature new onboard connectivity features to its customers and operator. A new wireless Airborne Communication System (wACS) allows secure and seamless transmission of data. In-flight information will be transmitted in real-time.

Next year, Airbus hopes to gain EASA certification for the new H145. Later that year, the first deliveries will follow. The manufacturer has also stated, that current H145 customers can purchase a retrofit option to experience the same improvements.

During Heli-Expo 2019, Swiss ambulance operator Air-Rescue Rega has become the launch customer for the retrofit version. Rega announced that it would retrofit its seven helicopters strong H145 fleet. Heinz Leibundgut, Chief Pilot and member of Rega's Management Board, commented: “Our patients will profit from the increased useful load. It is a great benefit for our air rescue operation, where every additional kilogram is crucial, especially in challenging environments like the Alps.”