Formerly known as EC145 T2, the H145 helicopter is a twin-engine multipurpose helicopter manufactured by Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters). The helicopter was launched in March 2011 at the Heli Expo held in Orlando, Florida, US, having completed its maiden flight in July 2010.
The helicopter can carry out missions such as emergency medical services (EMS), law enforcement, search-and-rescue (SAR), business aviation, oil and gas, and utilities.
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Orders and deliveries of the H145 helicopter
Airbus Helicopters received an order from Germany-based Landespolizei Baden Württemberg for the delivery of six law enforcement variants of the H145 helicopters in December 2013.
Phoenix Heli-Flight ordered one H145 helicopter in March 2013.
ADAC Air Rescue ordered a supply of 14 H145 helicopters in September 2012. Deliveries were expected to be completed by 2017.
Scandinavian Air Ambulance ordered four H145 helicopters in February 2012. The helicopter provides emergency medical transportation services in north Finland.
HTM Helicopter Travel Munich placed an order for one helicopter in February 2012. The helicopter is used to provide services at offshore wind farms.
DRF Luftrettung placed an order for 25 helicopters in November 2011. The first H145 helicopter was delivered to Luftrettung in July 2014 and deliveries were expected to be completed by 2022.
H145 helicopter design
The H145 is an advanced version of the Eurocopter EC145, developed in association with Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
The new helicopter features an all-composite tail boom with a fenestron-shrouded tail rotor. It features new composite blades, duplex tail-rotor actuators and dual hydraulic circuits, along with a newly designed gearbox. The helicopter features an all-composite structure and aerodynamic geometry. It also features a skid-type landing gear.
Cockpit and avionics
The helicopter features the new Eurocopter avionics suite with three to four large primary displays, and an enhanced human-machine interface (HMI). It has a digital four-axis automatic flight control system (AFCS) that enables the pilots to overcome even the most demanding helicopter operations and environmental constraints.
The crew alert system and exclusive built-in test capacity of the aircraft provide first-rate pilot assistance for handling failures, emergency management and troubleshooting.
The avionics include flight navigation display, vehicle monitoring display, vehicle management subsystem and two duplex aircraft management computers. Reference sensors, three inertial measurement units and two air data sensors are also installed.
The avionics further includes two three-axis magnetometers, an integrated electronic standby instrument, fire extinguishing system warning and digital engine control systems.
H145 cabin details
The helicopter features a spacious cabin, which can either accommodate one pilot with ten passengers or two pilots with nine passengers. It has a total cabin volume of 21,315ft³ and cargo volume of 604m³. Two hinged cockpit doors are provided as well as a sliding window.
The cabin features two passenger sliding doors as well as two more rear-hinged clam-shell doors. It is fitted with a ram-air and electrical ventilating system.
Engine and performance
The H145 helicopter is powered by two powerful Arriel 2E engines manufactured by Safran Turbomeca. The engine has a take-off power of 1,038shp.
It features a dual-channel full authority digital engine control (FADEC). It was certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in January 2013.
The maximum cruise speed of the helicopter is 134k (248km/h), and the maximum take-off range is 370nm (680km) at sea level.
The helicopter has a maximum weight of 3,650kg (8,047lb). It has a useful load capacity of 1,731kg (3,816lb) and a maximum cargo sling load capacity of 1,500kg (3,307lb).
