Airbus Helicopters to showcase H135 as future Navy helicopter trainer during U.S. Navy Fleet Fly-In event

Modern, twin-engine H135 is a proven military trainer in use globally

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas, Airbus Helicopters will showcase the versatile and market-leading H135 aircraft as the future training helicopter for the U.S. Navy at the Naval Helicopter Association’s Fleet Fly-in at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Pensacola, Florida from October 22-26. 

“Airbus Helicopters is convinced the H135 is the best solution to prepare the next generation of U.S. Navy pilots for decades to come, both technically and economically,” said Chris Emerson, President of Airbus Helicopters, Inc. and Head of the North America region. “We look forward to demonstrating why this aircraft is the best solution for the Navy’s helicopter training needs.”

Airbus pilots will conduct orientation flights with U.S. Navy pilots and other stakeholders to demonstrate the H135’s capabilities at the October fleet fly-in.

Equipped with the most advanced technologies available like 4-axis autopilot and One Engine Inoperable (OEI) training mode, the FAA Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) Certified H135 provides future aviators with an ideal platform for training missions, a critical requirement for the Navy as it trains its pilots over water and in reduced visibility.

“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 efficiencies compared to a single-engine aircraft,” said Scott Tumpak, vice president of military programs at Airbus Helicopters, Inc.

With its maneuverability, cockpit visibility, advanced safety features, endurance, and best-value performance attributes, the H135 is the preeminent military training helicopter in the world. More than 130 units are providing training for military pilots in 13 countries, including Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan. 

The H135 has executed over 300,000 military training flight hours. Globally, the H135 operates in more than 60 countries and has flown more than 4.8 million hours.

The H135 boasts the Airbus-developed, state-of-the-art Helionix avionics package designed by pilots specifically for helicopters.  The H135’s advanced cockpit design improves pilots’ situational awareness while reducing workload, which enhances safety.  The high-set main rotor and Fenestron® shrouded tail rotor contribute to improved operational safety.

Airbus produces the U.S. Army’s primary training helicopters, the twin-engine UH-72A Lakota. Since contract award in 2006, Airbus has delivered 431 Lakotas on time, on cost and on quality. Also, the Lakota is the primary trainer aircraft for the Navy’s Advanced Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Md.

The H135 trainers for the Navy will be produced at the company’s facility in Columbus, Miss., where the Lakota is manufactured. The Columbus workforce is comprised of more than 40 percent U.S. military veterans.

“A multi-mission and economical workhorse, the H135 is the right tool to support U.S. Navy initial pilot training. Airbus’ global success in delivering rotary wing training platforms is recognized worldwide,” Tumpak added.

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 delivers the first of 100 H135s for China in Qingdao

Qingdao, Airbus Helicopters has delivered one H135 to Health Commission of Qingdao in China’s Shandong Province, making this helicopter the first of 100 H135s to be delivered to China per a framework agreement signed in June 2016. 

The H135 was delivered in HEMS configuration, fully equipped with the latest medical interior, and will perform life-saving EMS missions in Qingdao and the surrounding area. It is the first H135 to be delivered to China with Airbus’ latest generation Helionix avionics suite, which increases safety and decreases pilot workload.

At the ceremony, United General Aviation Industrial Development Co. Ltd. (UGA), Airbus Helicopters’ distributor in China, signed a contract with Eastern General Aviation Company for two H135s. UGA has also previously secured a framework agreement with Qingdao Huatong Financial Leasing Co. Ltd. (Huatong Leasing) for six H135s.

The first five H135s of the order for 100, including the one delivered today, are being assembled in Donauwörth, Germany, where Chinese final assembly line (FAL) employees have been receiving on-the-job training from their German counterparts since April 2018. The remaining 95 will be assembled in Qingdao on the H135 FAL which broke ground in 2017. The construction of the FAL will be completed by the end of 2018 and will enter into operation in early 2019 on schedule.

“This delivery represents the first of many milestones supporting our commitment to serve the Chinese market with H135s made in Qingdao. We are proud of our ambitious 50-year partnership with China and cannot imagine a better way to kick off our next 50 years together,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters.

Airbus Helicopters holds the leading position in the Chinese civil and parapublic helicopter market. As of August 2018, there were approximately 280 Airbus helicopters flying in China serving 75 customers.

The company is committed to working hand-in-hand with Chinese administration, private operators and industrial partners to meet the rotorcraft needs of this growing market, which has experienced annual growth of 20 percent in recent years.

The H135 is one of the most popular light twin-engine helicopters in China, mainly operating in helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS), search and rescue, law enforcement, firefighting and tourism. To date, more than 1,270 helicopters of the H135 family are in operation around the globe with close to 5 million flight hours.

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.