A few weeks back, two Eurocopter EC135T2+ helicopters arrived in the UK at the end of a ferry flight from Azerbaijan. Previously operated by Silk Way Helicopter Services on EMS work from January 2012, the two had been replaced by new AgustaWestland AW139s and taken by the Anglo-Italian manufacturer in part-exchange. They have now been leased to Avincis Groupl arriving in the Azeri operator’s blue and yellow scheme.

In turn, Avincis are putting one to work in the UK and one in France.

Serial 1010 – previously registered 4K-AZ90 with Silk Way – is being prepared in the UK by Bond for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance contract. Based at Thruxton, this operation upgraded from a Bo105 to EC135 G-BZRS in September 2010, which was replaced in February this year by G-WMAS – which had became superfluous on Bond’s Midlands Air Ambulance contract when MAA bought a new night-capable EC135. The ex-Azerbaijan aircraft has been repainted in a yellow and green scheme for its new role, and is expected to arrive at Thruxton next month according to a press release from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance

Serial 1011 – previously registered 4K-AZ91 with Silk Way – had some work done by Bond but has now been roaded out of their base at Gloucestershire Airport bound for France, where it will be operated by INAER as part of a big new EMS contract they have won.

Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com

Photo (c) Copyright of Dave Haines / www.FlyGloster.co.uk