AIRBUS HELICOPTERS announced orders for at least 50 new helicopters from across its portfolio at the Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo, held in Las Vegas in late February.
On February 27, the opening day of the trade exhibition, Airbus Helicopters announced what it termed was an “unprecedented” order for 25 EC145e helicopters from Metro Aviation in the United States. The EC145e is a lower maximum take-offweight and lower cost version of the EC145. Metro Aviation became the initial customer for the type after it was launched in 2015.
Initially designed for visual flight rules only operations, the EC145e has since been modified with an electronic flight information system cockpit and an autopilot and stability augmentation system. Instrument flight rules certification is expected during 2018.
Metro Aviation will use the additional helicopters in the air medical transport and utility roles.
Metro Aviation President Mike Stanberry said: “The versatility and price point made it an attractive addition to a large number of rotary-wing fleets and we have put seven in service since committing to our first purchase in 2015.”
In other North American news, Airbus Helicopters announced on February 28 that Boston MedFlight has ordered three H145 helicopters, as part of its fleet upgrade plans. The first two H145s will enter service in the spring of 2018 and the third will follow in autumn, replacing two earlier EC145s and a BK117.
Further south, Mexican oil and gas operator Transportes Aéreos Pegaso announced on February 28 that it has signed for an additional H175, bringing the number of helicopters it has on order to four.
Pegaso’s first H175 was delivered in 2016 and is used on crewchange missions for geoseismic vessels. The second helicopter, to be delivered in the spring of 2018, will support international operations in Mexico’s deep water Perdido Belt. The final two H175s will be delivered in 2019 to support offshore crew change missions in the Gulf of Mexico.
Airbus Helicopters also recorded considerable success in the Asian market during Heli- Expo, with orders for three additional helicopters from Japanese operators announced on February 27.
Existing customer Auto Panther signed for one ACH130 helicopter, the corporate version of the H130 with a VIP cabin interior. The helicopter will be used for corporate VIP transport work, based in Kagoshima.
Noevir Aviation placed an order for one H125 Ecureuil on passenger charter work in Japan, and Nakanihon Air Service signed for one H135, increasing its fleet to 20 units. The helicopter will be used on medical transport and newsgathering operations.
Also on February 27, Airbus Helicopters announced it had signed orders for ten helicopters, seven H125s and three H130s with Heliflite China. The helicopters will be used for helicopter emergency medical services (EMS) and utility missions throughout China. Xian-based Heliflite China was also appointed the official Airbus Helicopters distributor in China.
In the European market, Airbus Helicopters announced on February 27 that Helicopter Travel Munich has ordered four H125s, bringing its fleet of Airbus Helicopters products to 25 units.
Arguably, however, the biggest news from Heli-Expo was the announcement on March 1 that Babcock will be the global launch customer for Airbus Helicopters’ new H160, after signing a five-year agreement for the purchase of a fleet of helicopters.
Although the number on order has not been disclosed, Babcock will use the fleet on EMS and other missions, initially in Europe and then across the company’s bases around the world.
Roger Hardy, Chief Executive Aviation for Babcock International Group, said: “The H160 was the natural choice for Babcock’s operations, as its large cabin and low vibration levels and its state-of-the-art technology will make it a safe and comfortable environment for mission-critical services to work in.”
