Show highlights included the increased power of the H125 that will enable operators to lift up to an additional 190 kg (419 lbs), Shell Aircraft confirming their interest in using the H160 for offshore transportation missions, and Metro Aviation ordering an additional 12 new EC145e helicopters.
Customs and Border Protection will add 16 new H125 helicopters to their fleet, with deliveries beginning later this year from Airbus’ production facility in Columbus, Miss. Another H125 order was signed with Ascent Helicopters in Western Canada.
“At Airbus Helicopters, we are constantly focused on finding ways to help our customers better execute their missions,” said Bruno Even, Airbus Helicopters CEO. “We are honoured by the trust that our first-time and returning customers place in our aircraft and support solutions, which has been confirmed once again at this year’s Heli-Expo.”
Airbus received an order for three new H135s from NASA, marking the first-time partnership between the U.S. space program and Airbus Helicopters. The agency will use the aircraft for a variety of missions, including missile launch security at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, emergency medical services and qualified personnel transport.
Reinforcing their commitment to ensuring the highest level of safety available, tourism operator Maverick Helicopters announced it will retrofit its entire fleet of 34 EC130 B4 helicopters with the Airbus Crash Resistant Fuel System.
On the support and services side, Airbus secured numerous global support contracts, including Papillon, Heliportugal, and DRF Luftrettung who extended its HCare Smart contract for another eight years. These plans enable customers to increase availability and mission success, optimize their costs, lower the maintenance burden, enhance safety and sustain the value of their assets. Airbus also unveiled its new collaborative AirbusWorld customer portal and an online Marketplace making e-commerce practices from the consumer world available to Airbus customers. Additionally, the company has nearly doubled the number of helicopters now sharing flight and maintenance data with the company in just one year.
Also announced at the show, Airbus’ global helicopter fleet reached 100 million flight hours. To all the pilots, operators, engineers, technicians, mechanics, ground crew, and passengers who helped make this milestone possible, #thanks100million.
Ascent Helicopters adds third H125 to its growing fleet
Ascent Helicopters will expand its fleet with a new Airbus H125, announced at this year’s Heli Expo trade show at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Known as a multi-mission workhorse, the H125 will support power line and hydro utility work, as well as forestry and firefighting missions. This will mark the third H125 Ascent has acquired from Airbus in the past four years. The new H125 will be delivered mission ready from the Airbus facility in Fort Erie Ontario in late spring 2020.
“At Ascent, our work is ever-evolving, and we need an aircraft that can keep up with a wide range of missions,” said Trent Lemke, President of Ascent Helicopters. “The H125 is the right solution, allowing us to meet the diverse needs of our customers, swiftly and effectively.”
Headquartered in Western Canada, Ascent Helicopters offers specialized flight services to a variety of government and industry clients, including utilities, construction, film and television, fire suppression, air ambulance, heli-skiing and natural resources. Ascent’s U.S. partner is Heli-1, a Reno-based Part 133 & Part 135 operator. Heli-1 will use the H125 to support its growing operations in the powerline sector.
The powerful, high performance H125 is designed to carry out the most demanding missions in the most extreme weather and geographical conditions. Its exceptional lift capability, endurance, extended range and fast cruise speed make the H125 the leader in its class.
“The H125 has proven itself as a reference aircraft in the industry, with outstanding reliability, simplified maintenance and low operating costs,” said Dwayne Charette, President and COO of Airbus Helicopters Canada. “We are so pleased that Ascent Helicopters is once again turning to the H125 to support its versatile missions.”
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