Airbus’ helicopter division has a four-decade presence in Latin America. With a fleet of more than 1,400 rotorcraft in service across the region, Airbus helicopters make up nearly a third of the operating fleet in this area of the world. The Airbus customer centre network, with bases in Mexico, Brazil and Chile, ensures continuous support to its helicopter types flying in Latin America and the Caribbean and employs approximately 1,150 people.
From the H125 single-engine rotorcraft to the multi-purpose heavyweight H225M, Airbus’ helicopters are in service with most of the continent’s military services. The highly successful Super Puma/Cougar family H225 and H215 rotorcraft, for example, are operated in Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Ecuador, Argentina and Bolivia. Airbus has also supplied 10 AS565 Panthers MBe to the Mexican Navy, which became the world launch operator of this new version.
The H225 of the Argentine Coast Guard is used for search and rescue missions in the Argentinian sea
In the civil sector, several rotorcraft models are used in public service and commercial activities such as medical emergency transport, airborne law enforcement, transport missions for the energy industry, and private and corporate aviation.
Operated throughout Latin America is the single-engine H125 light utility helicopter: famed for its performance in ‘high and hot’ conditions, this rotorcraft is commonly used for airborne law enforcement and diverse aerial work missions, as well as for private business aviation. The light twin-engine H145 performs police missions including support to populations affected by natural disasters and gives support to the energy/mining industry. The new super-medium H175 has been successfully deployed in the Gulf of Mexico serving the oil and gas industry.
Airbus has launched several industrial cooperation programs that have greatly contributed to the development of the region’s aviation industry. Brazil – home to a state-of-the-art engineering and design centre and final assembly lines for H125 and H225 rotorcraft – and Mexico – with a new 13,000-square metre industrial facility producing aeronautical metallic components – are good examples of the company’s active role in industrial cooperation and transfer of technology in the region.
In addition to the in-house support and services offer provided by its subsidiaries, Airbus has created an accredited network of helicopter maintenance centres in several Latin American countries, including Argentina, Guatemala, Panama and Peru. Airbus also offers initial training for technicians and pilots.
The H125 of the Investigations Police of Chile
