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.

First civil customer Nolas takes delivery of an H135 with Helionix

Donauwörth, – The Norwegian air ambulance operator Norsk Luftambulanse AS (NOLAS) is the first civil customer to receive an H135 equipped with Helionix. Six additional H135s with Helionix will be delivered to NOLAS in 2017 and 2018. In December 2016, the UK MoD was the first military customer to receive the new H135 with Helionix.

NOLAS won a national HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Services) tender in Norway in 2016, and a total of 12 bases and 17 new helicopters will be operated from June 1, 2018. All helicopters are equipped for 24/7 operations with state-of-the-art configuration for Single Pilot IFR/Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS) operation, Aerolite interiors and the latest medical equipment. With a specially trained anesthesiologist, a pilot and a HEMS crew member, and a specially configured helicopter, NOLAS do on-scene missions as well as advanced intensive care transportation in the demanding environment of Norway.

The H135 obtained EASA certification for the Helionix avionics suite in November 2016. The Helionix avionics system designed by Airbus offers operators with increased mission flexibility and safety. Helionix is a family concept with standardized features and is already available on the H175 and H145.

On top of the 4-axis autopilot, Helionix offers an innovative cockpit layout which helps to increase situational awareness. Designed with three large electronic displays on the H135, the cockpit is Night Vision Goggle compatible and includes a First Limit Indicator which highlights the appropriate engine instrument data for the pilot in one indicator.

The H135 is a helicopter of reference for air ambulance operators worldwide. It combines a wide, unobstructed cabin with excellent performance, range and payload capacity – along with low-noise operations. The oversized sliding side doors and rear clamshell doors enable fast loading/unloading of patients, with additional safety during ground operations provided by Airbus’ signature shrouded Fenestron tail rotor.

“In demanding environments and under almost all kind of weather challenges, it is great to have the support of the new technological developments that the Helionix version can offer”, said NOLAS CEO Rune Midtgaard. “It reduces the pilot workload, increases the safety of the operation and in the end the ability to reach the patients in need of the advanced medical support the service can offer.”

“We are proud that NOLAS trusts our helicopter and the Helionix suite for their challenging missions” said Martin Schneider, head of the H135 programme. “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 has delivered more than 1,250 H135s to customers around the globe who have logged a total of more than four million flight hours.