Browsing: Airbus

Oxford, UK – Airbus Helicopters has signed a firm contract with the Republic of Ireland Department of Defence to acquire four H145M helicopters.The H145M, a new type in Irish military service, will be used to expand the operational capabilities of the Irish Air Corps on a variety of defence and security tasks.“The procurement of the Airbus H145M helicopter platform is another important step on the journey of transformative change of our Defence Forces. These new light multi-role helicopters, proven in their service in other militaries, will not only enhance the Irish Air Corps rotary capability but will also serve as a critical enabler to the Army, Naval Service and Special Operations Forces,” said Irish Defence Forces’ Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Seán Clancy.“It’s a great honour to be selected to play this key role in the modernisation of the Irish Air Corps fleet.

Albacete, Spain – Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first NH90 of the second batch of 23 helicopters to the Directorate General of Armament and Material (DGAM) at its facility in Albacete, Spain. This is the first NH90 in the Standard 3 configuration for the Spanish Air and Space Force.This second batch, which includes 23 NH90 helicopters, foresees the delivery of a total of 16 Standard 3 helicopters, ten of which will equip the Spanish Army Air Mobile Forces (FAMET), while six will go to the Air and Space Force. The Spanish Navy will receive seven navalised helicopters. Deliveries will be staggered from December 2024 to 2028.The first NH90 for the Spanish Navy in tactical transport version (MSPT) is in the process of finalising its Type Certificate from the Spanish Airworthiness Authority and is already in Albacete awaiting its final delivery to the DGAM in the coming weeks. The Spanish Navy personnel, belonging to the 14th Squadron, have already started their training at the Albacete plant to begin operations with their first NH90.”We are proud to be supporting our armed forces with these new state-of-the-art NH90s that will create a standardised modern fleet across all three armed forces. We have contributed to these  benchmark airborne forces with a helicopter that offers a world-class operational capability to the Spanish Armed Forces. The upcoming addition of the NH90 in the Spanish Navy is a definitive step in the modernisation and Airbus Helicopters will be ready to respond to the needs of the Spanish customer,” said Fernando Lombo, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Spain.The new NH90 for the Spanish Air Force is the first NH90 in the Standard 3 configuration. It offers more advanced communications with enhanced encryption capabilities, greater operational safety features and a number of system optimisations.For its part, the MSPT will significantly increase the Spanish Navy’s strategic projection capabilities thanks to new onboard equipment such as a reinforced landing gear, a maximum take-off weight of up to 11 tonnes, and the automatic folding of the main rotor blades and rear fuselage. A total of 523 NH90s have already been delivered to 13 different countries and have accumulated nearly 420,000 flight hours. Spain, for its part, has 15 helicopters in  service with the FAMET, known as ‘Sarrios’, while the Spanish Air and Space Force has six NH90 ‘Lobo’ in operation. Both have been involved in the relief efforts following the passage of the Dana in Valencia.NHIndustries (NHI) is a joint venture formed by Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo Helicopters, and GKN Fokker. NHI is dedicated to the design, manufacturing, and support of the NH90 helicopter, delivering cutting-edge solutions to its global customer base.@EjercitoAire @Armada_esp @EjercitoTierra @AirbusHeli #DGAM #NH90 #MakingMissionsPossible

Dallas, Texas, North Memorial Health is partnering with Airbus for the first time to welcome two new H135 helicopters to its Air Care program in late 2022.“Adding these helicopters to our fleet is the latest step in our long-term commitment to create the safest air medical program possible,” said Scott Sampey, vice president and chief of ambulance services for North Memorial Health. “We are excited about what the addition of this modern technology means in terms of improved safety and advanced patient care for our customers, communities and flight crews.”Air Care operates 24/7 out of seven bases and covers territory in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and North and South Dakota.  Air Care is part of the North Memorial Health system, which started as a single hospital in 1954 and has grown into a network of 26 specialty centers with 350+ care providers and more than 6,000 team members.“We could not be prouder to support the critical work of teams like North Memorial Health’s Air Care program,” said Cyndi Carter, air medical segment manager for Airbus Helicopters, Inc.  “It’s our honor to welcome them to the Airbus family, and we look forward to helping them introduce the proven and reliable H135 to the communities they serve.”

The H135 is the market leader in emergency medical services (EMS) worldwide and can be fitted with a wide range of EMS configurations, providing direct access and ample room for patient care. The H135 comes with the lowest operating and maintenance costs of any twin-engine helicopter and is also one of the quietest helicopters in its class.  Recent evolutions to the proven H135 include Airbus’ Helionix avionics suite and an alternate gross weight to further increases the useful load by up to 265 lbs.Airbus Helicopters is the leading provider of helicopters to the air medical transport industry, providing some 55% of the 2,600 EMS helicopters flying in the world today and more than half of all new air medical helicopters sold in the last decade in the U.S.@north_memorial #HEMS #H135 #makingmissionspossible  

Paris – The Dutch Ministry of Defence has awarded a contract to Airbus Helicopters for 12 H225Ms. The contract also includes an initial batch of support and services. The agreement was signed by Vice-Admiral Jan Willem Hartman, Head of the Netherlands Command Materiel and IT (COMMIT) agency, and Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters during the Euronaval trade show in Paris.“We are very proud to see the Royal Netherlands Air Force and COMMIT renewing their trust in Airbus Helicopters.

Amsterdam – Airbus and Østnes Helicopters, the official distributor for Airbus Helicopters in the Nordic countries, announced a contract for ten Airbus H125s at this year’s European Rotors. They will join a fleet of more than 150 H125s in the region, which mainly perform utility and aerial work missions. “Nordic customers require a truly versatile helicopter which can perform a wide range of missions,” said Frode Østnes, CEO of Østnes Helicopters. “The H125 has proven that it has the capabilities time and again. Our customers in the region depend on these aircraft for essential missions and we are determined to ensure they benefit from short delivery times.

Amsterdam – Airtelis and Airbus Helicopters took the opportunity of European Rotors to announce the signature of a framework agreement for the purchase of up to five H145 helicopters, including the firm order of one. The helicopters are foreseen to be operated and used by Airtelis’ subsidiary Oya Vendée Hélicoptères, which provides support for the offshore wind industry. “The H145 has proven to be the perfect helicopter for our offshore wind operations during the construction of the new Yeu Noirmoutier offshore energy platform off the coast of Nantes,” said Laurent Giolitti, Executive President of Airtelis.

Salt Lake City, Utah – Global Medical Response (GMR) has placed an order for 28 Airbus helicopters, including six H125s, five H130s, 14 H135s and three H145s, as it continues expanding its air medical fleet. Following GMR’s order of five Airbus helicopters earlier in 2024, the company will operate a fleet of nearly 200 Airbus helicopters, reinforcing its position as one of the largest operators of Airbus helicopters in North America.Expanding on the 28 aircraft ordered, GMR will have options to purchase an additional 23 new Airbus helicopters over the next three years. With this order,

Fort Erie, Canada – Airbus Helicopters has signed a landmark contract with SkyAlyne, a joint venture between Canadian defence leaders CAE and KF Aerospace, to provide the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) with 19 Airbus H135 helicopters to train the next generation of RCAF Pilots.

The H130 helicopter marks a significant milestone with the integration of a new autopilot system. This technological innovation redefines the flight experience, offering a multitude of benefits for both pilots and operators.  

Etihad Airways (EY/ETD) is one of two national airlines of the United Arab Emirates—alongside Emirates (EK/UAE)—and was founded in 2003. Since then it has rapidly grown into one of the world’s leading airlines. Based in Abu Dhabi (AUH), Etihad is renowned for its commitment to luxury, innovation, and high-quality service to passengers. The airline operates an extensive network that connects the Middle East with key destinations across Europe, Asia, North America, and beyond. Over the years, Etihad has developed a reputation for its premium cabin offerings, including The Residence, the first three-room suite seen on passenger aircraft. With a strategic focus on long-haul travel and a diverse fleet, Etihad continues to play a pivotal role in global aviation.