Browsing: General

General

Greece orders eight Airbus H215 helicopters to combat forest fires

By General 4 Mins Read

Athens, Greece, 30 April 2025 – Airbus Helicopters has signed a contract with the Hellenic Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection for the purchase of eight H215 helicopters (with an option for two additional aircraft) to support the combat of wildfires in the country following a tender conducted by the Project Preparation Facility of Growthfund (the National Fund of Greece) on behalf of the Ministry. This contract is supported by two European funds and aligns with the Ministry’s Aegis Programme aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the Civil Protection forces. The contract will be based on a “government owned contractor operated” (GO-CO) model for which Airbus Helicopters will be partnering with experienced H215 firefighting operators, Airtelis and SAF Hélicoptères, for the technical and operational support. “The signing of the contract for the purchase of new H215 helicopters represents an important step in our efforts to mitigate the devastating consequences of the climate crisis in our country,” said Panagiotis Stampoulidis, Deputy CEO of Growthfund, about the significance of the project. “This is the largest contract signed under the ‘Aegis’ National Programme to bolster the Civil Protection mechanism in Greece with modern equipment, and we are delighted that the Project Preparation Facility of Growthfund swiftly concluded this tender with transparency and efficiency.”  “Wildfires have burned on average three to five million square kilometres globally in recent years with significant environmental consequences. It is an honour to have been selected to support the combat, with our H215 helicopters, that Greek communities face every year,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “The H215 is used around the world for firefighting missions with its ability to drop more than four tonnes of water at a time. Relying on experienced operators, such as Airtelis and SAF Aerogroup, is exactly what the French Securité Civile does. Airbus Helicopters has been a long-standing provider of helicopters for essential missions in the country and together with our GO-CO partners, we are sure that the H215 will be a vital and reliable asset,” he added. SAF Aerogroup specialises in complex helicopter operations like mountain rescue, air medical services, firefighting, and humanitarian/logistic missions, demonstrated by their 2024 H215 RescEU deployment to Greece. The group also manages high-precision lifting, maintenance, and pilot/technician training, offering comprehensive high-value air services to governmental and international organisations. Similarly, Airtelis, a French operator based in the South of France with over 60 years of experience stemming from its parent company RTE, has broadened its focus beyond power grid support to include emergency response, notably firefighting, for a wider range of national and international clients.  Airbus Helicopters has been a long-standing partner in Greece since the early 2000s in both the civil and parapublic and military sectors. The Hellenic Fire Brigade operates two Super Pumas and the Hellenic Air Force operates 12 Super Pumas. The Super Puma ecosystem in the country will benefit from the support activities and training of technicians and pilots foreseen by the contract.The H215 is a multirole helicopter that is part of the Super Puma family with over 1,100 helicopters delivered and more than 6 million flight hours under its belt. The H215 is equipped with the H225’s renowned 4-axis autopilot which enables firefighting activities to be conducted at night as well as during the day. It is deployed around the world for firefighting missions thanks to its range of around 540 NM, superior endurance of more than two hours, and its ability to transport 19 firefighters. As one of the only heavy helicopters in production that is civil certified along with its ability to be equipped with either a water bucket or a belly tank, it is the ideal complement to any country’s firefighting assets. @AirbusHeli #H215 #MakingMissionsPossible

General

New Airbus H160/H175 simulators for Brazil

By General 2 Mins Read

Athens, 24 April 2025 – Airbus has committed to providing full flight H160/H175 simulators for training in Brazil in 2028. The simulators will support the training needs for the growing energy sector in Latin America, demonstrating Airbus’ commitment to customer proximity and aviation safety. The H160/H175 full-flight simulators will have Level D training capabilities and will be qualified by ANAC, the Brazilian civil aviation authority. The latest Helionix version will be included in the simulator cockpits in compliance with the avionics systems of both helicopters. The simulators will also include OEM data packages, which provide the most accurate reproduction of a helicopter’s behavior – enhancing pilot readiness and operational safety.“Our customers spoke and we listened. We are extremely proud to reinforce our commitment to the Latin America region with the planned introduction of these full flight H160/H175 simulators, providing our customers with enhanced training capabilities closer to home. By staying close to our customers, we are not only supporting their operational needs and helping boost their growth trajectories, but also strengthening aviation safety across the region. This investment underscores our dedication to delivering world-class training solutions that help pilots and crews operate at the highest standards of excellence and safety,” said Romain Trapp, Executive Vice President Customer Support & Services at Airbus Helicopters.Brazil is already home to an Airbus Helicopters Simulation Academy located in Rio de Janeiro since 2015. This simulation centre has so far offered nearly 7,500 hours of simulation to almost 600 students. The new addition of the H160/H175 simulators in Brazil will multiply capacity in the region, cementing it as a major training hub in Latin America. The demand for medium helicopters in the energy sector over the next decade is expected to exceed 40 units in the Latin America region alone, doubling the number of medium helicopters currently in the region. Meanwhile, the first North American H160 Full Flight Simulator is expected to enter into service in 2026 in Grand Prairie, Texas, boosting training availability in the region. Airbus is currently exploring options to locate future H160 FFS in other growth areas such as Asia and Australia. @AirbusHeli #MakingMissionsPossible 

IMRBPB Annual Meeting 2025

By General 1 Min Read

IMRBPB Annual Meeting 2025 The IMRBPB aims at developing higher maintenance standards and improving safety in maintenance aspects. It allows…

General

H140: finding the perfect balance on the cutting edge

By General 4 Mins Read

Airbus Helicopters’ latest helicopter has been designed to be high performance and highly efficient. Dr. Dirk Petry, Vice President H135 and H140 Programmes, explains how the programme arrived at the ideal blend. What were the key drivers for launching the Airbus H140?Dr. Dirk Petry: The major motivation is the clear market demand for efficient, high performance helicopters with larger cabins, low operating cost and an attractive acquisition price. The H140 meets this demand, providing a spacious cabin that can seat up to six passengers comfortably, in a helicopter that is easy to maintain. It is essentially an efficient, compact helicopter with an optimised cabin that performs well at altitude and in hot conditions as well. There is also a large replacement market for helicopters that are performing medical missions worldwide. The H140 is designed to perfectly meet the needs of these operators. Other helicopters offer a large cabin, but they are not optimally positioned in terms of operating cost or performance. We are bringing a product to the market which will offer a perfect combination of low operating cost, larger cabin and a better performance than its rivals. 

What is being introduced to the design of this helicopter that will ensure such a high performance?D.P.: Naturally, as it is a new helicopter, the H140 will benefit from design solutions, proven throughout the rest of the Airbus Helicopters range —and from our demonstrators such as Bluecopter. The most obvious examples are the T-shaped horizontal stabiliser, the new Fenestron design and the five-bladed rotor. What it will deliver to operators is an attractive ratio of useful load versus maximum takeoff weight (MTOW). It will be fast but with a smooth flight which will really make an impact for medical operators. Indeed, for our operators’ helicopter emergency medical service missions, the H140 will offer excellent rear-loading capability and a cabin that is the perfect size for their patients and crew—meaning a new standard in terms of the care that they can deliver. This means it will be easier to load patients onto the helicopter as well as allowing more complex intensive care missions. 

Will the Airbus H140 also deliver missions other than HEMS?D.P.: Yes, definitely. In keeping with the versatility of Airbus Helicopters’ range, the H140 will be a fully multi-mission helicopter. While we have designed a cabin with HEMS operators, like every Airbus helicopter, the H140 will feature the modularity necessary to perform a complete range of missions. As such, it is a multi-purpose helicopter, which can cover law enforcement, firefighting and ultimately all mission segments. Its large cabin, for example, will prove very interesting to the private business aviation sector. It is also well worth mentioning how seamlessly the cabin can be modified for different missions. It is designed to allow quick cabin conversions, so public service operators that fulfill a range of missions will have effortless transitions. For instance, in countries where the paramedic and firefighting services are conducted by one operator, this could be very useful.

How many people are working on the H140 programme?D.P.: There are several hundred people working on this project—across many sites. All the company is contributing to the development, production and support of this helicopter. In this context Airbus Helicopters’ site specialisation is playing a huge role. The final assembly line and the programme are based in Donauwörth (Germany) where the airframe is assembled and the airframe major component assembly is integrated as well; the dynamic components are being done in Marignane (France), Paris Le Bourget is supplying the main rotor blades and Albacete (Spain) is assembling the tail boom. This shows you the sheer scope of the project to design and deliver this helicopter. Thankfully we can count on an incredible team of colleagues to work together to do it. 

General

Airbus awards ‘Make in India’ H130 helicopter fuselage contract to Mahindra Aerostructures

By General 3 Mins Read

New Delhi, India, April 09, 2025 – Pursuing its strategic commitments to ‘Make in India’ and to promote the helicopter ecosystem in the country, Airbus Helicopters has awarded a contract for the manufacturing of the main fuselage assembly of the H130 helicopter to Mahindra Aerostructures Pvt. Ltd. in India. The contract was signed in the presence of Shri. Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Honourable Minister of Civil Aviation, Government of India, Shri. Vumlunmang Vualnam, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Rémi Maillard, President and Managing Director of Airbus in India and South Asia, and Dr. Anish Shah, Group CEO and Managing Director of the Mahindra Group.Mahindra will produce the H130’s main fuselage assembly, which will then be shipped to Airbus Helicopters’ facilities in Europe. Industrialisation will commence immediately, with the first cabin assembly scheduled for delivery by March 2027.“We have a strategic plan for India and we are implementing it to develop a holistic aerospace ecosystem across all dimensions: assembly, manufacturing, engineering, innovation, digital and training,” said Rémi Maillard, President and Managing Director Airbus India and South Asia. “The H130 fuselage manufacturing contract underscores Airbus’ confidence in the growing industrial excellence of the Indian supply chain, which offers the right mix of competencies and competitiveness. We are glad to extend this bond with India through our latest association with our partner Mahindra Aerostructures,” Maillard added.Mahindra already supplies a variety of parts and sub-assemblies for Airbus’ commercial aircraft programmes. The latest contract marks a significant milestone for Mahindra as it continues to expand its portfolio of capabilities from parts and sub-assemblies to larger and more complex aerostructures.Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Anish Shah, Group CEO and Managing Director of the Mahindra Group, said, “We are delighted to deepen our longstanding partnership with Airbus through this pivotal aerostructures contract. As a global leader, Airbus has played a transformative role in nurturing India’s aerospace ecosystem and showcasing it on the world stage. It is an honour for us to build on our proven track record with Airbus, harness our industrial process excellence, and embark on this new initiative. This collaboration highlights our commitment to supporting the Government of India’s flagship ‘Make in India’ program.”For Airbus, India is both a major market and a strategic resource hub. Today, every Airbus commercial aircraft has components and technologies made in India. Currently, Airbus’ annual procurement of components and services from India stands at $1.4 billion. Airbus’ efforts to mature the wider Indian aerospace ecosystem also includes the building of two Final Assembly Lines: one for the C295 military aircraft and the other for the H125 helicopter. The H130 is an intermediate single-engine helicopter tailored for passenger transport, tourism and private and business aviation, as well as medical airlift and surveillance missions. It has a wide, unobstructed cabin, which accommodates the pilot and up to seven passengers, providing outstanding visibility through a large wrap-around windscreen and wide windows. Its state-of-the-art technologies, materials, systems and avionics make it a quiet and powerful helicopter. 

General

A perfect match – DRF Luftrettung and the Airbus H145

By General 4 Mins Read

 German helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) operator DRF Luftrettung flies one of the largest H145 fleets in the world. Now the company has taken delivery of its 40th H145, from the Airbus Helicopters site in Donauwörth. It seems that since the very beginning, the H145 and DRF Luftrettung have been a match made in heaven. The German HEMS operator took delivery of the first ever four-bladed H145 in 2014 and the helicopter soon became the backbone of its operations. Impressed by its performance DRF Luftrettung then became the first customer to upgrade a four-bladed H145 to the five-bladed version. As a HEMS operator, how a helicopter’s performance positively impacts patient care is a key factor. As a user from the very onset, they have a wealth of examples of the difference the H145 can make. “I remember one mission where I was particularly impressed by the performance of the five-bladed H145,” recalls pilot Franz Ahollinger, who has accumulated more than 5,000 flight hours in his career. “It was a typical mission for us, flying from Zwiesel in the Bavarian Forest to Regensburg with a patient requiring treatment with a mobile heart-lung machine (ECMO). We had our usual crew on board, plus a cardiologist. Together with the patient, there were six people on this flight, plus all the specialist equipment. With the five-bladed H145 we were able to carry out this mission without any problems.”

The helicopter that has it all Ahollinger has been involved in H145 operations from the start. As project manager for the introduction of the H145 into the DRF fleet, as H145 flight instructor for the DRF Luftrettung and as HEMS pilot at the DRF base in Regensburg, he has significant experience with this helicopter type. “The five-bladed H145 is the ideal helicopter for our missions,” says Ahollinger, who’s been with the DRF Luftrettung for more than 20 years and began his flying career in the German Armed Forces 32 years ago. “The cabin is large, so we can carry all the equipment we need for interhospital transfer missions, but the helicopter itself is still compact enough to land close to accident sites,” he continues. “Helionix and the five-blade rotor make the helicopter the perfect tool for our missions. From my point of view, Helionix is the best avionics system on the market, it’s very intuitive and self-explanatory, it gives the pilot the right information at the right time. The five-blade rotor makes the helicopter as smooth as a fixed-wing aircraft, which is very important for the treatment of patients in the helicopter, but also for the crew as we sometimes fly non-stop during our 12-hour shifts, especially in the summer”.

Any time, any place – the H145 is ready to save livesThe DRF Luftrettung has been relying on the five-bladed H145 in Regensburg since 2021 and flew more than 1700 missions day and night in 2024 alone. The station in Regensburg is a dual-use station (primary and secondary missions), which operates 24 hours a day. Due to its proximity to the Danube and the Bavarian Forest, water and mountain rescue operations are also carried out in the area of emergency rescue.Since 2011, the base in Regensburg has been the second air rescue station in Germany to be authorised to use night vision goggles for night rescue operations. It also provides specialised transport for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome or cardiovascular failure, while maintaining intensive care therapy. DRF Luftrettung is one of the largest HEMS operators in Europe. DRF Luftrettung operates more than 50 Airbus helicopters at 29 bases in Germany for emergency rescue and intensive care transport, including rescue winch operations and day and night missions. In 2024, the German HEMS operator flew a total of 35,850 missions.

General

Send in the Super Puma for aerial firefighting operations

By General 4 Mins Read

Since 1977, operator Custom Helicopters has offered a versatile fleet to cater for any mission their customers may require. Historically focused on single-engine utility work in Canada, they recently expanded operations to include larger multi-engine aircraft. CEO Jed Hansen explains the impact the Super Puma is having on their firefighting operations.What are the particularities of operating in Canada?Jed Hansen: Our operations span coast to coast to coast in Canada, covering from the Pacific to the Atlantic and as far north as possible. The operating environment presents challenges such as varying terrain and temperatures ranging from -40 to +40°C. Additionally, Canada experiences diverse and challenging weather conditions. Our fleet of Airbus aircraft has proven to be reliable and capable in all these environments. Reliability is crucial, especially in remote areas where our customers depend on the aircraft for daily transportation. Our Airbus fleet has enabled us to provide excellent service.

Historically, Custom Helicopters’ single-engine fleet focused on utility work.
How are your Super Pumas deployed on fire suppression missions?J.H.: Primarily, the Super Pumas are used for water bombing. However, their civilian certification allows them to perform additional tasks, such as transporting crews to and from the fire line and moving people in emergency situations. For instance, during a fire that threatened a remote community, the Super Puma was instrumental in evacuating hundreds of people to a nearby airport, providing a swift and effective means to get out when there were limited options and time was critical. Another time, we evacuated a community, we got the people out, but in an emergency only essentials can come, so the pets got left behind. We worked with the community and sent in the Puma. It was quite the scene when it showed up back at the airport loaded with pet crates from front to back, floor to ceiling. Seeing all those pets being saved, reunited and the smiles on the faces of the families and specifically the kids was amazing.What are the advantages of fighting fires with a Super Puma?J.H.: The Super Puma is a proven utility aircraft capable of operating in challenging, harsh, and remote environments. It boasts an increased external gross weight compared to other variants, allowing it to lift substantial loads. With its impressive speed and range, the Super Puma can carry more fuel than other heavy aircraft while lifting the same amount of water. This capability enables extended operations on the fire line, delivering more water to combat fires threatening homes and communities. Fire operations are often conducted at remote or temporary bases rather than returning to a hangar each day. The Puma L2 has proven effective in this environment, and its 10,000 lbs of lift with a close water source means it is the leader on the amount of water it can drop on a fire in an hour. If the water is close enough, which is often the case in Canada, we can do really quick turns. If we get 10 or 12 drops an hour on a fire, we’re looking at 40,000+ litres of water, which really makes a difference. If we look at increasing capability with the addition of a tank on a Puma and we can drop water both day and night, that volume of water on a fire in a 24-hour period is material. It’s going to make a difference. Looking at the dollar cost per litre of water dropped, the Puma does start to set itself apart.

One of Custom Helicopters’ H215 helicopters, ready for action.

What is next on the horizon?J.H.: We are collaborating with United Rotorcraft and DART Aerospace as a launch customer supporting their development of a 1,000-gallon firefighting tank for the Puma family. We anticipate the tank will be available later this year. They have a proven system that is utilised on many other aircraft types, and we have no doubt this new innovative tank system will be a great new option for the Puma. The water bucket is effective, but we expect the new tank to improve our operations, particularly with night vision goggles (NVG). We anticipate that significant forest fire incidents will continue to occur, like California recently experienced, and this superior tank will significantly enhance our effectiveness.*This article was originally published in issue 137 of Rotor magazine. Discover more about the vital missions thousands of Airbus helicopter operators perform across around the world.

BCA Special Edition Newsletter

By General 1 Min Read

BCA Special Edition Newsletter kylee.adams@in… Fri, 03/07/2025 – 23:30 Business aviation is soaring, and industry events are where game-changing decisions…

General

IDEX 2025

By General 1 Min Read

Dassault Aviation takes part in the IDEX show at Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) from February 17 to 21, 2025.…

General

Himalayan Heli Services orders two Airbus H125

By General 2 Mins Read

Bengaluru, India, 11 February 2025 – Himalayan Heli Services Ltd., India’s leading helicopter company in the pilgrimage and aerial work sectors, has ordered two Airbus H125 helicopters to expand its fleet. This latest order will expand Himalayan Heli’s fleet to eight H125 helicopters, making it the largest H125 multi mission operator in the country. The helicopters will be deployed for commercial air transport and aerial work missions in northern India. “Himalayan Heli Services is proud of using Airbus H125 helicopters for more than 15 years. The H125 has proven to be a safe, very versatile and most suitable helicopter for high altitude passenger flying as well as airborne geophysical survey across varied terrains. A prompt technical support by Airbus gives us much required confidence while serving in remote regions,” said T. Wangchuk Shamshu, Managing Director, Himalayan Heli Services Limited. “We are honoured that Himalayan Heli has once again chosen Airbus Helicopters’ H125 for their expanding services. This order underscores the trust that Himalayan Heli places in Airbus and highlights the expansion of our partnership,” said Sunny Guglani, Head of Airbus Helicopters in India and South Asia. “The H125 is known for its versatility and performance in high-altitude terrains. We are certain that these helicopters will be valuable assets that will enable Himalayan Heli to expand their growing network of services in the country,” he added. 

General

Aero India 2025

By General 1 Min Read

Dassault Aviation takes part in the Aero India show at Bengaluru from February 10 to 14, 2025. Dassault Aviation booth:…