1 Jul, 19, Source: Airbus Helicopters

The prototype of the five-bladed H145, which Airbus Helicopters unveiled at Heli-Expo in Atlanta last March, has just arrived in Chile where the aircraft will start a high altitude flight campaign. EASA certification is expected in early 2020, with deliveries following later that year.

The new H145 is ready to take on the Andes, with altitudes up to 20,000 feet above sea level, after having already performed some altitude tests in the French Pyrenees during the summer of 2018. The objective of this campaign is to expand the flight envelope of the new helicopter and demonstrate its capabilities at high altitudes.

Due to its multi-mission capacity and excellent performance in hot and high conditions, present in many countries in Latin America, the H145 family is one of the region’s favourite light twin engine helicopters. The flight campaign will provide some operators with the opportunity to fly the new version and experience first-hand the improvements brought by the new five-bladed rotor – an increased useful load of 150 kg and new levels of comfort.

The H145’s new five-bladed rotor brings a significant increase in overall performance, with a maximum take-off weight raised to 3,800 kg and a useful load now equivalent to the aircraft’s empty weight. The simplicity of the new bearingless main rotor design will also ease maintenance operations, further improving the benchmark serviceability and reliability of the H145, while improving ride comfort for both passengers and crew. The reduced rotor diameter will allow the H145 to operate in more confined areas.

The new H145 introduces new levels of on-board connectivity to customers and operators through the integration of the wireless Airborne Communication System (wACS), allowing seamless and secure transmission of data generated by the helicopter in real-time, including in-flight.

Related Posts

• EHang 216 AAV completes first trial flights in Beijing airspace
• Emergency Services affected by Facebook Australia news ban
• Second group of Botswana police pilots training on Enstrom 480B
• Mauritius signs helicopter lease with India
• London’s Air Ambulance extends maintenance contract with SAS
• Bell Delivers Three Huey IIs to the Lebanese Air Force
• HAL Hands Over ALHs to the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard
• HAL’s LUH Receives IOC
• Student pilot disputes NTSB report
• New rules for helicopter flights in the Everest region
• EHang Further Rebuts Short-Seller’s Allegations Concerning its Relationship with Kunxiang
• Minot AFB already preparing for MH-139A Grey Wolf
• Indonesian Army receive second Bell 412EPI
• Irish Community Rapid Response Air Ambulance reports 2020 stats
• EHang Wins Urban Air Mobility Call from Paris
• Gulf Med Aviation Services to invest in MRO training
• WAI receives $250,000 grant to fund additional scholarships
• Sloane Helicopters ranked in top 40 UK private companies for international sales growth
• Strategic New Appointments At Midlands Air Ambulance Charity
• Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Kuwait of AH-64E Apache