Airbus Helicopters Fully Operational as UK MFTS Aircraft Service Provider

Helionix-equipped H135s delivered the UK Military Flying Training System (MFTS).

Oxford, Airbus Helicopters completion of delivery of 29 Helionix equipped H135s and three Helionix, hoist-equipped H145s earlier this year, marked the end of the delivery phase of the MFTS contract. Today, the company has completed its service provision build up and is fully embedded at RAF Shawbury and RAF Valley, supporting Ascent’s Training delivery from newly modernised facilities. On 1st April 18, the precise date of the RAF Centenary, Airbus Helicopters was confirmed by Ascent and the Ministry of Defence as being ready for training use for the UK MFTS rotary wing element. Since contract signature on 16 May 2016 to ready for training on 1st April 2018, Airbus Helicopters has delivered on time and to cost against an extremely demanding timescale.

The Entry into Service of the H135 Juno and H145 Jupiter in 2018 marks 45 years and three generations of Airbus Helicopters aircraft providing continuous military flying training in the UK; following the selection of the SA341 Gazelle in 1973 for the Navy, Army and the RAF Central Flying School (Helicopters) and the choice of AS350 Squirrels in 1997 for the Defence Helicopter Flying School.

Airbus Helicopters Handover of Empire Test Pilot School H125 to Qinetiq

Farnborough – Colin James, Airbus Helicopters’ UK Managing Director, formally handed over the latest Empire Test Pilot School (ETPS) H125 helicopter to Nic Anderson, Managing Director Air and Space, Qinetiq.  Under the current modernisation programme, the world-renown test pilot flight school will receive four H125s, which will make up ETPS’ new generation, single-engine helicopter fleet.  Minister of State for Defence Earl Howe visited the aircraft as part of the handover and met both Airbus Helicopters and Qinetiq to show his support for the latest addition to the ETPS fleet.

All four ETPS H125 will be delivered following complex customisation by Airbus Helicopters’ UK design team, which equips the aircraft with, among other things, a 3-axis autopilot, dedicated communications equipment and a traffic awareness system.  In addition, the aircraft will be equipped with a Flight Test Instrumentation suite which, similar to Formula 1 telemetry data, transmits data to the ETPS base at Boscombe Down in real time allowing students, both in practical and class-based environments, to test and evaluate aircraft design and performance.

Airbus launches SmartForce – services bringing the power of data to military operations

NH90 FAMET (Spanish Army)
©Anthony Pecci/Airbus Helicopters

Farnborough, 16 July 2018 – Airbus is extending its highly successful introduction of advanced data analytics in the civil aviation community to the defence market with the launch of SmartForce.

Airbus Defence and Space together with Airbus Helicopters are launching the SmartForce suite of services to enable military operators to exploit the data gathered by their aircraft to enhance operational safety, boost mission availability and reduce maintenance support costs. Operators can benefit from services to improve troubleshooting, optimize maintenance effort, predict maintenance actions and plan smartly for material demand.

The system incorporates on-site private data clouds to support specific military security requirements but also lays the ground for operational data-sharing between willing allies. 
The resulting enhanced decision-making reduces the maintenance burden and boosts fleet availability.

It will enable substantially more efficient maintenance by drilling into the wealth of data acquired by new generation helicopters and aircraft such as the NH90, A400M and A330 MRTT resulting in new standards of aircraft availability and the freeing of resources to focus on mission execution.

Head of Military Aircraft Services at Airbus Defence and Space, Stephan Miegel said: “SmartForce helps military operators to accelerate their own digital transformation in order to allow them to improve their operational readiness. Our vision is to enable data-driven new capabilities to support our customers in extracting more value from our in-service products. By breaking information siloes, Airbus teams can more rapidly perform root-cause analysis and faster trouble shooting, providing our customers with more efficient customer support.

“Our digital analytics services support the goal of enhanced mission readiness of our operators’ aircraft. They optimise maintenance practices, enable better informed and data-driven decision-making, and provide predictive solutions which all contribute to reduced workload and costs.”

Airbus Helicopters EVP Support / Services Matthieu Louvot said: “SmartForce will play a key role in fulfilling our greater goal of supporting our customers by leveraging the value of data for simpler, safer and more efficient operations.

“Our Connected Services offer will now be able to encompass the diversity of our customers with both Skywise Connected Services for civil operators and SmartForce for military operators.”

SmartForce builds on the successful experience of Airbus with its Skywise open data platform for the civil sector which now hosts the data of more than 2,000 aircraft at over a dozen airlines following its launch last year.

To satisfy military security requirements, SmartForce incorporates robust security measures such as geographic isolation, the use of accredited personnel, and monitoring by national cyber-security authorities.

Airbus Helicopters and the Ukrainian Ministry of Interior sign for 55 helicopters

Ukraine is set to modernize its civil helicopter fleet

H145, ©J.V. Reymondon/Airbus Helicopters

Kiev – Following the Intergovernmental Agreement signed between France and Ukraine on 8 June, Airbus Helicopters has signed a contract with the Ukrainian Ministry of Interior for the purchase of 55 civil helicopters destined for search and rescue (SAR), public services, and emergency medical service (EMS) missions in the country. The 55 aircraft include 21 repurposed H225s, and 10 brand new H145s and 24 H125. The contract, which also foresees the setting up of a local training and maintenance centre, was signed in Kiev on 14 July in the presence of Arsen Avakov, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Ukraine, and Bruno Even, Airbus Helicopters CEO.

The heavy twin-engine H225 aircraft ordered by Ukraine, for which the French State currently holds economic rights, will be repurposed to suit public services and search & rescue missions for which the aircraft is recognised as a reference helicopter. The H225 features include a takeoff sequence of less than five minutes, an extra long-range capability with auxiliary fuel tanks, and its world-renowned autopilot and upper SAR modes. The first H225 helicopters are expected to land in Kiev before the end of 2018.

 A world leader in the EMS segment and parapublic missions, the Airbus H145 is the latest member of its 4-tonne-class twin-engine rotorcraft product range – with designed-in mission capability and flexibility, especially in high and hot operating conditions. Compact in size, this helicopter’s small footprint and large, flexible cabin make it the aircraft of choice for a variety of civil missions.

The H125, an Airbus bestseller, is a light single-engine helicopter that has earned its reputation as a true multi-mission workhorse thanks to its high levels of performance, exceptional manoeuvrability, excellent visibility and low vibration levels in the cabin, with an optimized maintenance plan that contributes to reduced operating costs for the customer.  The aircraft, with its new flat floor can be quickly and easily reconfigured for various missions, including aerial work, firefighting, law enforcement, search and rescue, and passenger transport.

Sea Lion’s Qualification Phase Has Started

The second prototype of the NH90 Sea Lion

Donauwörth – The second prototype of the NH90 Sea Lion has performed its first flight in serial configuration on July 10. This event marks the beginning of the helicopter’s qualification phase together with the customer’s official authorities. When the qualification phase is finished, the German customer will release the military type certificate to allow the first serial delivery, which is scheduled for end of 2019. Altogether 18 helicopters are on order.

La flota de helicópteros del servicio eléctrico francés, RTE

El servicio eléctrico francés RTE supervisa anualmente 105.000 kilómetros de líneas eléctricas.

La red francesa de líneas eléctricas de media y alta tensión tiene una longitud de 105.000 kilómetros, ésta es propiedad de RTE (Réseau de Transport d'Électricité -subsidiaria de EDF, Electricité de France-). 

La compañía STH (Services et Travaux Héliportés) es la responsable de la vigilancia, el mantenimiento y construcción de la red a través de su flota de helicópteros que incluye H225, AS355, H135 y H125.

Con el fin de dar servicio eléctrico a sus clientes, con el menor tiempo de interrupción posible, STH ha desarrollado nuevas formas de llevar a cabo las operaciones en las líneas de alta tensión, a través del trabajo de pilotos y técnicos altamente cualificados. 

Conocidos como "Lignards", estos técnicos trabajan regularmente sobre plataformas suspendidas bajo los helicópteros, realizando las labores de mantenimiento sin cortar la corriente eléctrica, que oscila entre los 64.000 y 400.000 voltios. 

Al menos una vez al año se revisa cada kilómetro de la red (recordamos, 105.000 km en total), lo que permite a STH detectar anomalías que posteriormente serán reparadas por el personal técnico.

El mantenimiento preventivo es también una de las máximas entre las actividades de STH, utilizando para ello cámaras termo-infrarrojas para localizar fuentes de calor en la red eléctrica, de forma que su personal pueda localizarlas y planificar las reparaciones específicas. 

La red se extiende también a través de zonas pobladas, lo que implica una mayor seguridad, por ello sobre éstas utilizan helicópteros bimotor. 

La modernización de la flota de STH está en curso desde el 2016, ya en ese mismo año Airbus Helicopters ha hecho entrega de dos nuevas unidades, concretamente un H125 y un H135 (ambos motorizados por Safran).

Para continuar con el crecimiento y la evolución en el servicio de RTE, se ha construido un nuevo hangar en el aeropuerto de Avignon el año pasado, en el que se albergan todas las instalaciones heliborne de la compañía así como las de su subsidiaria, Airtelis. 

Con la excepción de los H225 propiedad de esta última, Airtelis (que los utiliza también para operaciones de cargas pesadas), el resto de la flota de helicópteros que se encarga del mantenimiento de las líneas pertenece por completo a RTE.

Airbus is showcasing an array of innovative products for modern defence and security solutions at Eurosatory

Mock-ups of helicopters, drones and the latest in intelligence networks on show

Paris, Airbus Helicopters and Airbus Defence and Space will be showcasing an array of products, destined to providing defence and security solutions worldwide with their most innovative solutions, at their booth C158 in Hall 5A at Eurosatory this year.

Airbus Helicopters’ display includes a scale mock-up of the H160M that was selected in the frame of the French Joint Light Helicopter program (HIL) that aims at replacing six types of helicopters in service in the three French armies. A new generation aircraft, the H160 will enter into service in the French Armed Forces, giving them a modern and high performing helicopter that has a low logistical footprint and that will be operational for the next 30 years. A scale mock-up of the H145M, alongside an HForce demonstrator, will also be on show. The H145M equipped with HForce recently performed ballistic and laser guided rocket testing ahead of delivery to launch customer Serbia later this year. The aircraft also recently demonstrated the highest level of manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) capabilities further enhancing its operational capabilities.

Also on display, the VSR700 is Airbus Helicopters’ rotary wing unmanned aerial system designed to fulfil the demanding requirements of global navies. With the best coverage of any VUAS it can operate from small corvettes to major warships in the most demanding conditions.

Last but not least, Airbus Helicopters’ display is equipped with dedicated corners on its Fleet Availability Management, Material Management, and Hcare Services.

A scale mock-up of the Airbus Zephyr will be on show. Running exclusively on solar power and flying above the weather and above conventional air traffic, the Airbus Zephyr systems fill a capability gap and are complimentary to satellites, UAVs and manned aircraft providing affordable, persistent, local satellite-like services.

Full scale mock-ups of the Survey Copter mini tactical drones, DVF 2000 VT/ ALIACA and the DVF 2000 ER will be presented. The DVF 2000 VT / ALIACA provides a 360° panoramic coverage thanks to the positioning of its vertical turret, and can perform intelligence missions from 10 to 50 km range. The DVF 2000 VT / Aliaca in its previous version has been deployed by Special Forces worldwide and is perfectly adapted for maritime missions using a dedicated net landing solution. With its thermal propulsion with electronic fuel injection, the DVF 2000 ER is a high endurance versatile system allowing 8 hours missions over a 50 kilometers range.

Airbus will be presenting its solutions for land and satellite communication networks that are already in use by the most modern armed forces worldwide. For the first time at Eurosatory, Airbus will perform demonstrations of its Hybrid Networks solution. This new generation of intelligent network solutions enables the aggregation of all of the infrastructure or tactical networks regardless of whether they are land, mobile or satellite based.

Airbus Defence and Space will also showcase the ‘Holographic Tactical Sandbox’, a highly innovative tool designed to facilitate mission preparation by providing a 3D holographic map viewable in an augmented reality helmet. Integrated into the chain of command, this tool provides an accurate 3D representation of the battlefield using information supplied by Airbus’ Fortion® TacticalC2 application. Operators can view and create information, which is then shared with higher decision-making levels of command.

Furthermore, Airbus Defence and Space will exhibit its geospatial intelligence centre which allows its customers to manage the whole intelligence process from the collection and visualisation to the utilisation and distribution of information on one single intuitive and secure platform. This center provides its customers with the full capability and infrastructure to securely and effectively coordinate large-scale and complex defence missions with a large number of operators.

Aerial law enforcement: in service of their communities

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police H145, ©Jérôme Deulin (Airbus Helicopters)

Among the H125, H135 and H145, around 810 helicopters are in service in law enforcement, contributing to Airbus’ nearly 60 percent share of the global law enforcement fleet over the last 10 years. Below, a look at the airborne police units of Las Vegas, Japan and Germany, who are at the service of community and country in specially-equipped helicopters. 

Up on the mountain The helicopter’s shadow flits across the desert, where Joshua trees stand like old men over clumps of creosote. It’s still cool and snow lies in valleys on Mount Charleston. The crew of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s air unit, or Metro, point the nose of their H145 toward the area where a hiker has slipped and sustained injuries.

“We transfer from the scene to medical transport,” says Steve Morris, Jr., Metro chief pilot. “The medevac companies won’t go back in the canyons. And they don’t have a hoisting ability, so we’re called to transfer from the scene.”

The canyon where the hiker is waiting lies in shadow, its 90-foot walls V-shaped. The H145 hovers while the hoist operator lowers his crewmate to the canyon floor. Wind bends the trunks of junipers, their branches an obstacle for the orange-suited officer; he tugs the yellow rescue sling out of their way as he descends.

"The medevac companies won’t go back in the canyons, and they don’t have a hoisting ability, so we’re called to transfer from the scene."

Steve Morris, Jr., Las Vegas Metropolitan Police chief pilot

Las Vegas Metro operates six helicopters, deployed 80% of the time on patrols in support of ground officers. In August 2017, they became the US’s first police agency to take delivery of an H145, for mountain rescues. It’s also used for quick reaction force deployment, as during the 2017 Rock ’n Roll Marathon, where “we had it ready, staffed and staged,” says Morris. “We flew overwatch over the events with the team in the back ready to deploy.”

A few minutes pass, with everyone concentrated – the pilot on the instruments, the hoist operator’s gloved hand on the line to guide his crewmate in. The altimeter reads 9,047 feet mean sea level (MSL), with the H145’s twin engines maintaining a steady hover. The rescuer rises into view, supporting the hiker in the sling.

“The rescue at Mount Charleston was high,” says Morris. “We’ll get some higher-density altitude ones in the summer, when it’s over 112o F (44o C).”

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police H145, ©Jérôme Deulin (Airbus Helicopters)

H145M lanzó con éxito cohetes guiados por láser de 70 mm durante su campaña de disparo en Suecia

Donauwörth, la  mejora de las capacidades para el H145M continúan. En las primeras semanas de diciembre de 2017, Airbus Helicopters demostró la capacidad de disparar cohetes guiados por láser (FZ275 LGR de Thales) con su nueva plataforma H145M en el campo de pruebas Älvdalen, del Centro de pruebas de la Administración de materiales de defensa sueco . En un entorno difícil y desafiante, el sistema funcionó a la perfección.

El sistema electro-óptico (MX-15D) de L3 Wescam, con láser incorporado, permite un margen de desviación inferior a un metro en todos los cohetes disparados a una distancia de hasta 4,5 km. Este cohete aire-tierra guiado por láser de 70 mm mejora las capacidades de interacción del H145M. Cumple con las necesidades de precisión de ataque de las fuerzas armadas en todo el mundo al reducir el riesgo de daños colaterales, especialmente durante las operaciones de combate asimétricas.

"Los cohetes guiados por láser de Thales funcionaron increíblemente bien, teniendo en cuenta las condiciones climáticas que experimentaron durante las pruebas, que fueron lejos de ser ideales y además con mucha humedad en el aire", palabras de Raymond Laporte, piloto de pruebas de Airbus Helicópteros.

Tras el éxito de las pruebas de disparo balístico, celebradas en Hungría en octubre de 2017, la consecución de este nuevo objetivo con cohetes guiados por láser es una continuación de la estrategia de desarrollo HForce de Airbus Helicópteros para impulsar la capacidad de la misión H145M.

La calificación final del sistema balístico HForce en el H145M está programada para finales de este año 2018, mientras que los cohetes guiados por láser están planeados para finales de 2019.

Second NH90 Sea Lion prototype completes maiden flight

Donauwörth, The second prototype of the NH90 Sea Lion commissioned by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr) lifted off from the Donauwörth site for its maiden flight on 24 November 2017. Airbus Helicopters is now entering a development testing phase of several months that will focus on avionics and software. Activities for the qualification of the delivery configuration will start over the course of 2018 once additional modifications have been made to the prototype. Despite the very demanding timetable, the company is convinced that deliveries to the German Navy will start at the end of 2019. Final assembly of the first Sea Lion seriesproduction aircraft also started recently; this will run in parallel to the qualification.

Sociedad de Salvamento y Seguridad Marítima (SASEMAR)

Sikorsky S-61N, Helimer 209. ©Roi R. Labrador

El día 21 de julio de 1991 llegaba al aeropuerto de Alvedro, A Coruña, el primero de los helicópteros de la DGMM (aunque SASEMAR dependa de  la misma no se crearía hasta el año 1992, constituyéndose en el 93). 

De manera que el pasado verano se ha cumplido el XXV aniversario del inicio del servicio estatal de búsqueda y rescate marítimo a través de la Dirección General de la Marina Mercante (no aún con unas siglas propias), y veintiseis años desde la llegada de su primer helicóptero.

Por lo tanto este año Salvamento Marítimo sí celebra oficialmente su veinticinco cumpleaños; contando desde que empezó a rodar en 1993 y no desde su año de creación en el 92. Asimismo en julio de este 2018 serán veintisiete los años que han pasado desde la llegada del primero de los cinco Sikorsky S-61N a la base gallega de Alvedro (A Coruña).

Leonardo Helicopters AW139, Helimer 215. ©Ezequiel Millet

SASEMAR, a través de la experiencia acumulada a lo largo de este cuarto de siglo, se ha convertido en una muy clara referencia europea así como, por volumen en número de medios/km de  costa, en uno de los servicios SAR civiles más completos a nivel internacional.

S-61N, A Coruña 

Sikorsky S-61N, Helimer 210 y 209. ©Ezequiel Millet

El Helimer Galicia fue el primero de los cinco Sikorsky S-61N que se fueron incorporando gradualmente para cubrir los puntos más peligrosos y con mayor tráfico marítimo de  nuestras costas (7.905 km), además de las aguas de responsabilidad SAR asignadas a España mediante el Convenio SAR (Convenio Internacional sobre Búsqueda y Salvamento Marítimo -OMI-), el cual abarca 1,5 millones de km² (tres veces la superficie del territorio nacional). 

Lógicamente, en el apartado de los helicópteros siempre hay que contar con el radio de acción; la media en condiciones normales es de unas 200-220 nm (contando con los 30’ de combustible de reserva obligatorios con los que ha de aterrizar).

Estos primeros cinco S-61N fueron denominados Helimer (acrónimo de  helicóptero y Marina Mercante), a los que se les sumó el sobrenombre de las CCAA o zonas costeras que cubrían. Estos fueron los siguientes:

- Helimer Galicia.
- Helimer Cantábrico.
- Helimer Mediterráneo.
- Helimer Andalucía.
- Helimer Canarias.

Plan Nacional de Salvamento 2006-09 

A través del PNS (Plan Nacional de  Servicios Especiales de Salvamento de la Vida Humana en la Mar y de la Lucha Contra la Contaminación del Medio Marino) -mayo del 2006 y para el período comprendido durante el mismo-, se duplicó la flota  de helicópteros existente.

El objetivo fue que en 2009 ya hubiera diez Helimer operativos, de los cuales ocho serían propiedad de SASEMAR y quedarían dos S-61N fletados a la ya entonces Inaer (anteriormente Helicsa, hoy Babcock MCS). 

Aérospatiale AS365 N2 Dauphin 2. ©Jose López de Alba

Las primeras nuevas unidades, que se incorporaron en 2006 fueron dos Aérospatiale AS365 N2 Dauphin 2 (posteriormente fabricados por la división Eurocopter, hoy Airbus Helicopters), fletados en régimen de alquiler a la empresa concesionaria del servicio (recordamos, por entonces Inaer), llegando hasta 6 bases -ya que uno de estos Dauphin sustituyó a otro de los Sikorsky S-61N más antiguos-. 

Los dos helicópteros franceses sí contaban con AP de tres ejes, podían mantener parámetros durante la navegación pero carecían de un cuarto para el estacionario automático, con lo cual no incorporaban Modos SAR (búsquedas tráficos y grúas debían de realizarse completamente en manual). 

AW139, Helimer 202. ©Roi R. Labrador

En 2007 AgustaWestland (Leonardo Helicopters en la actualidad) hizo entrega a SASEMAR de los dos primeros AW139 adquiridos en propiedad: Helimer 201 y 202 (el resto de unidades llegarían paulatinamente, finalizando la misma en el 2011). 

Así, durante la mayor parte del año 2008, la flota de helicópteros de Salvamento Marítimo estuvo formada por un total de nueve unidades:

- Helimer 201, 202 y 203, AW139 (en propiedad), y cubriendo las zonas: Mediterráneo Norte, Canarias Occidental y Cantábrico, respectivamente. 

- Helimer 208, 209 y 210, Sikorsky S-61N (propiedad de la por entonces Inaer) en Canarias Oriental, Estrecho y Galicia, respectivamente (hoy en día el 210 tiene base en Santiago de Compostela, el 209 se retiró del servicio en julio del pasado 2017, y el 208 hace sobre cuatro años que también fue dado de baja). 

- Helimer 204, 205 y 207 (Inaer, hoy Babcock MCS). Los dos primeros eran AW139 y el tercero uno de los Dauphin N2.

Helicópteros Helimer en la actualidad  

Airbus Helicopters H225, Helimer 401. ©Hugo Ramos

Desde la llegada de los ocho Leonardo Helicopters AW139 adquiridos en propiedad, dentro del actual PNS 2010-18*, el número de helicópteros se ha elevado a once.

*Plan Nacional de Salvamento 2010-18.

Sus bases son: 

- Santiago (Lavacolla. IATA: SCQ, OACI: LEST), Sikorsky S-61N (Helimer 210).

- A Coruña (Alvedro. IATA: LCG, OACI: LECO), Airbus Helicopters H225 (Helimer 401).

Las dos bases gallegas son las únicas que mantienen los mismos dos helicópteros, ya que las otras nueve están cubiertas por AW139 pero sin distintivo fijo, puesto que las máquinas italianas van rotando según disponibilidad por calendarios de revisiones.

- Gijón (helipuerto de El Musel, IATA: n/d. OACI: LEEL). 

- Santander (Seve Ballesteros. IATA: SDR, OACI: LEXJ).

- Tarragona (aeropuerto de Reus. IATA: REU, OACI: LERS).

- Valencia (Manises. IATA: VLC, OACI: LEVC).

- Palma  de Mallorca (Son Sant Joan. IATA: PMI, OACI: LEPA).

- Jerez de la Frontera (IATA: XRY, OACI: LEJR).

- Almería (IATA: LEI, OACI: LEAM).

- Gran Canaria (Gando. IATA: LPA, OACI: GCLP).

- Tenerife Sur (Reina Sofía. IATA: TFS, OACI: GCTS).

AW139, Helimer 203 en la base de El Musel (Gijón). ©Jose López de Alba

Los AW139 fueron encargados por el Ministerio de Fomento con todos los equipos y sistemas SAR, al fabricante italiano, en febrero de  2006 tras ganar la compañía transalpina el concurso público de adquisición. 

Como hemos comentado, del inicial modelo S-61N, del fabricante norteamericano Sikorsky, actualmente sólo queda uno operativo (EC-FVO “Helimer  210”), que previsiblemente a través del nuevo contrato de adjudicación será retirado en un futuro no muy lejano...

Más información: Hlcopters #5

Airbus is Strategic Partner at KADEX-2018

Unit 19 of the total of 53 attendants delivered by Airbus to the Luftwaffe. ©Airbus

Astana, 21 May 2018 – Airbus will attend KADEX-2018 (Hall1), Kazakhstan’s V International Exhibition Weapons Systems and Military Equipment, as a “Strategic Partner” this year. The exhibition will take place in Astana, from 23th May to 26th May 2018, and, for the first time, it will encompass the International Forum "Space Days in Kazakhstan", which will become one of the central dialogue platforms of the exhibition.

Airbus Defence and Space division, the Europe’s largest defence enterprise and the world's number one telecommunications satellites manufacturer and observation satellites exporter, will have a robust line-up of Airbus and customer products on static display at the show. They include its defence products, such as A400M and C295 versatile airlifters, with the latter currently in active service in the Kazakh Air Force. The A400M will demonsrate its complementarity to the C295 fleet, allowing Kazakh Air Force to greatly expand its strategic and heavy tactical capabilities.

Kazakhstan is a growth market for Telecommunications and Earth observation (EO) satellites for Airbus Space Systems unit.Two EO satellites, KazEOSat-1 and KazEOSat-2, provided by Airbus, were successfully launched in 2014 and are operated by the Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary (KGS).

Airbus Defence and Space has continuously been a reliable partner to the Kazakh space companies in the last decade. “Ghalam”, a joint venture between Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary (KGS) and Airbus Defence and Space, is one of the success stories underlining Airbus’ commitment to skills development, research and technology focused projects and initatives in the country, thus contributing to the growth of the Kazakh industry. Launched in 2010 in Astana, “Ghalam” is piloting world-class facilities for satellite design, integration and tests.

Airbus Helicopter has been a strategic partner of Kazakhshtan Engineering (ECKE) since 2010, with 26 locally assembled EC145 operated by the Ministry of Defense and the Committee for Emergency situations. ECKE has also developed maintenance and training capabilities, and operates a state-of-the-art flight simulator.

A 1:5 scale mock-up of the H145M from Airbus Helicopters will be on display. The H145M is a medium-sized military multirole helicopter capable of performing a wide spectrum of missions. This high-performance, versatile, rugged and reliable helicopter can be equipped with a large range of equipment and provides outstanding mission flexibility to military operators. Customers for the H145M include Germany, the Republic of Serbia and the Kingdom of Thailand, and the US Army which operate its UH-72A Lakota version.

With the two JVs based in Astana, and all its divisions involved in the country, Airbus has been a long-term strategic partner to the Kazakh aerospace industry for nearly 10 years. Airbus and its suppliers are involved in multiple cooperation projects with Kazakhstan offering world-class technologies and products, including satellites, helicopters and advanced civilian and military aircraft. In close collaboration with local actors to support the development of advanced industry concepts, Airbus is successfully contributing to Kazakhstan’s technological independence and growth.

Airbus to offer H135 for U.S. Navy helicopter trainer replacement

Light twin-engine aircraft is leading military trainer globally

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX. (17 May 2018) – Airbus Helicopters Inc. will offer the Airbus H135 helicopter as the solution for the U.S. Navy’s planned helicopter trainer replacement program. An H135 demonstrator aircraft in Navy trainer markings is on display this week at the 2018 Naval Helicopter Association Symposium in Norfolk, Va.

"The H135 is a market leading twin-engine, multi-mission helicopter performing the primary training mission for some of the finest militaries in the world," said Chris Emerson, President of Airbus Helicopters Inc. and Head of the North America Region. 

global leader in rotorcraft technology, offering a full range of modern and affordable training helicopters that have been proven in the U.S. and around the globe. The U.S. Army operates Airbus Helicopters' twin-engine UH-72A Lakota as its initial entry rotary wing trainer at Fort Rucker, Ala.

"When paired with Airbus unrivaled support for the lifetime of the airframe, the H135 is the right solution both technically and economically for the U.S. Navy,” Emerson said.  “As a twin-engine helicopter, the H135 provides a training environment most similar to the Navy’s warfighting rotorcraft fleet, creating opportunities for cost and operational synergies compared to a single engine trainer."

The H135 is the rotorcraft of choice for military pilot training due to its maneuverability, high visibility, and low vibration levels. The aircraft is equipped with the most advanced technologies available, providing instructor pilots with an ideal platform for training missions for the U.S. Navy. 

One of the safest aircraft in its class, the H135 is fitted with a Glass Cockpit, a crash-resistant fuel system, energy absorbing seats, fuselage and landing gear. The H135 has a proven record of unrivaled operational costs as result of continuous technological improvements.  The H135 is the preeminent military training helicopter in the world, currently providing pilot training for military pilots in over 13 countries around the world.

Easily recognized by its trademarked Fenestron® tail rotor system, the H135 combines Airbus Helicopters Helionix® technologies, including an advanced cockpit with one of the most modern Human Machine Interface (HMI) available in this light multi-purpose helicopter class.

With an accumulation of more than 4.5 million flight hours, the H135’s operational training readiness has consistently averaged greater than 90 percent further highlighting the platform’s viability for U.S. Navy pilot training.

Airbus Helicopters Inc. is the leading provider of civil and commercial helicopters in the U.S. The company is based in Grand Prairie, Texas where it operates helicopter completion, paint, and MRO facilities, performs flight test and engineering support, and flight and maintenance training for customers. The Columbus, Miss. plant, with a workforce consisting of more than 40 percent U.S. military veterans, produces UH-72A Lakota helicopters for the U.S. Army and the H125 for the civil market.

H135 receives EASA certification for Helionix avionics suite

H135 joins Airbus Helicopters’ Helionix family. The new cockpit system reduces workload

Donauwörth, 16 November 2016 – The light-twin helicopter H135 received the type certificate by the European Aviation Safety Agency for its new Helionix cockpit. The avionics system designed by Airbus Helicopters offers operators increased mission flexibility and safety. Helionix is a family concept with standardised features and is already available on the H175 and H145. 
Axel Humpert, Head of H135 Programme said: “The certification of the H135 with Helionix marks another milestone in the permanent evolution of this helicopter. The Helionix cockpit system with 4-axis autopilot significantly reduces the workload of the pilot and brings the H135 to an unrivalled level of safety due to the additional functions and mission features it adds to the H135’s capability.”

Besides the 4-axis autopilot, Helionix offers an innovative cockpit layout which helps to increase situational awareness. Designed with three large electronic displays, the cockpit is Night Vision Goggle (NVG) compatible and includes a First Limit Indicator which highlights the appropriate engine instrument data for the pilot in one indicator. Thanks to two touchscreen GPS/Nav/Comm GTN-750, Helionix ensures an all-in-one GPS navigation and communication system. The Traffic Advisory System TAS620A, a system which improves flight safety by assisting pilots in detecting and avoiding aircraft intersecting their flight path, is another key feature delivered by the Helionix avionics suite.

Initial deliveries of the H135 with Helionix cockpit will occur in 2017. Among the first commercial operators will be Norsk Luftambulanse AS, a Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) operator. Ascent Flight Training, the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) appointed Training Service Partner delivering for the UK’s Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) selected Airbus Helicopters as the Aircraft Service Provider for the rotary wing element in May 2016. The UK MOD will be the first military customer. 

The H135 is the unbeaten market leader in light, twin-engine, multi-purpose helicopters. Traditional missions for this class of helicopters include emergency medical services, law enforcement, VIP and business passenger transport, maintenance of industrial wind parks and military training. 

Airbus Helicopters has delivered around 1,200 H135s to customers around the globe who have logged a total of more than four million flight hours.