April 2015 African Pilot 9Aviation Business
The EC145 T2 features a modern digital cockpit and a 4-axis autopilot. With a
maximum take-off weight of 3.65 tons, the helicopter is powered by Turbomeca
Arriel 2E powerplants equipped with dual-channel full authority digital engine
controls (FADEC). Operational safety is enhanced by Airbus Helicopters’
Fenestron® shrouded tail rotor, particularly for landings and take-offs in confi ned
landing sites, as well as during loading/unloading on the ground whilst the rotor
is still turning. The UH-72A is a version of the EC145 type produced by Airbus
Helicopters’ plant in Columbus, Mississippi for the United States Army and Navy.
Six units were acquired by the Royal Thai Army in December 2013 from the
United States Army under the Foreign Military Sales programme.
AIRBUS HELICOPTERS UNVEILS ITS ALL-NEW HIn one of the industry’s most anticipated events, Airbus Helicopters
presented its all-new twin-engine H160 at the Heli-Expo in Orlando. As
the fi rst product introduced with the Airbus Helicopters corporate identity
and its new numbering designation, this 5.5-6-ton-class rotorcraft’s
nose-to-tail breakthroughs in design and systems, exemplify the
company’s transformation plan that puts customer satisfaction and
operational safety fi rst.The H160 brings form and function together in a
highly stylised rotorcraft, which integrates as many as 68 different Airbus
Helicopters-patented technologies. Its payload lift, range and effi ciency
make this helicopter ideally suited for a wide variety of uses, including oil
and gas operations; public services, air medical and coast guard duties;
along with commercial transport, private and business aviation.With a
cruise speed of 160 knots, the H160 can carry 12 passengers at distances
of up to 120 NM. for oil and gas missions and a 450-NM range with
20-minute reserve in public service or search and rescue tasks.The distinctive design of the H160 includes two Airbus Helicopter fi rsts,
both offering improved performance and fl ight stability: the largest-ever
Fenestron® shrouded tail rotor, which is also double-canted at 12-deg.
angles, further enhancing anti-torque control effi ciency; and the all-new
Biplane Stabilizer™, whose unique design involves a staggered placement
of the dual-level, interconnected stabilisers. This feature facilitates pilot
manoeuvres and signifi cantly reduces aerodynamic penalties in low-speed
fl ight and hover. An additional H160 technology breakthrough is Airbus
Helicopters’ initial production use of its Blue Edge® main rotor blades, which
reduce exterior noise levels by 50 percent (3 dB) and also allow a payload
increase of up to 100 kg. when compared with traditional rotor blades,
depending on fl ight conditions.The H160 is the fi rst-ever, fully-composite civil helicopter, resulting in an
airframe that is lighter in weight, more robust, resistant to corrosion and
fatigue, whilst requiring less maintenance. Airbus Helicopters’ proven
Spherifl ex bearing less main rotor hub is further enhanced with the applicationAirbus H