Eurocopter EC135

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EC135
Eurocopter EC135 T2+ of the German Federal Police
Role Light utility helicopter
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Eurocopter
First flight 15 February 1994
Produced over 1000 (2011)[1]
Unit cost ~US$4.2M, €3M
Variants Eurocopter EC 635

The Eurocopter EC135 is a twin-engine civil helicopter produced by Eurocopter, widely used amongst police and ambulance services and for executive transport. It is capable of flight under instrument flight rules (IFR) and is outfitted with digital flight controls. Entering service in 1996, over a thousand aircraft have been produced to date.

Contents

Development[edit]

Origins[edit]

The EC135 started development prior to the formation of Eurocopter under Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) under the designation Bo 108 by MBB in the 1970s. Working in partnership with Aerospatiale, the Bo 108 was initially intended to be a technology demonstrator, combining attributes of the successful MBB Bo 105 with new advances and am aerodynamically streamlined design.[2] Technologies included on the Bo 108 included the first full-authority digital engine controls (FADEC) on a helicopter, a bearingless main rotor, and the adoption of a new transmission.[2] The first prototype made its first flight on 17 October 1988, powered by two Allison 250-C20R/1 engines. A second BO 108 followed on 5 June 1991, this time with two Turboméca TM319-1B Arrius engines; unlike later production aircraft, both technology demonstrators flew with conventional tail rotors.

BO 108 prototype

In the late 1990s, the design was revised with the introduction of the Fenestron tail rotor system, an advanced rigid main rotor, composite materials, and resonance isolation systems.[2] It was decided to pursue a full certification program, resulting in the production of two pre-production prototypes, under the new designation EC135 to correspond with the newly-created Eurocopter company.[3] At this point, it was decided that the EC135 should be developed with two competing engines, the Turboméca Arrius 2B and the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B engines; both engines proved to be successful and either is available as options on production EC135s.[4]

The EC135 made its first public appearance in January 1995 at the Heli-Expo at Las Vegas.[2] European JAA certification was achieved on 16 June 1996, with FAA approval following on 31 July.

Further development[edit]

Superior Ambulance's EC135 at Rush University Medical Center

Single-pilot IFR (SPIFR) certification was granted by the German LBA on 2 December 1999. Deliveries to the German Aviators Corps began on 13 September 2000 at the German Army Aviators School at Bückeburg Air Base near Achum, Germany. The EC135 received SPIFR certification from the UK CAA in December 2000.

In autumn 2000, Eurocopter announced the start of certification work for the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B2, a version of the PW207 which offers improved single-engine performance and 30 second emergency power. The LBA certification was achieved on 10 July 2001, and the first EC135 with the new engines was handed over to the Swedish National Police on 10 August 2001.

In 2002, the EC135 Active Control Technology demonstrator/Flying Helicopter Simulator (ACT/FHS), a research aircraft designed to test fibre optic-based flight control systems, undertook its first flight.[5]

At the NBAA in March 2007 in Atlanta, Eurocopter unveiled ‘L’Hélicoptère par Hermès, a special-edition VIP model designed by Hermès International, S.A.. This variant features a specially created luxury four-place main cabin, a sliding glass partition, a corporate baggage hold, redesigned skid landing gear and other external changes. Launch customer for ‘L’Hélicoptère par Hermès is Falcon Aviation Services (FAS), based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

In 2011, Eurocopter entered the Chinese business market licensing the Zhong-Ou International Group to produce the EC135 Luxury Helicopter in the Zhejiang province.[6]

Operational history[edit]

EC135 T1 of French operator SAF Hélicoptères during a rescue operation

Deliveries started on 1 August 1996, when two helicopters (0005 and 0006) were handed over to Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht. The 100th EC135 was handed over to the Bavarian police force in June 1999; by which point the worldwide fleet had accumulated approximately 30,000 flight hours.

The world fleet leader in aircraft hours for this type is G-NESV (s/n 0067) operated by Cleveland Police Air Operations Unit based at Durham Tees Valley Airport, UK. This aircraft was originally delivered to the North East Air Support Unit in April 1999, and by 2009 it had clocked up almost 12,000 hours.

In 2011, Eurocopter announced that a total of 1000 EC135 helicopters had been delivered to customers worldwide, roughly 15 years following the start of production.[7]

In 2013, it was reported that the EC135 was currently providing roughly 25% of the world's total emergency medic services flights, and that over 500 EC135s have been delivered to in an aeromedical configuration.[8]

In 2009, the EC135 was the first aircraft selected for offshore wind support in the UK after the Civil Aviation Authority approved helicopter operations to the Greater Gabbard offshore wind farm.[9][10] The EC135 has also been used for this purpose in Denmark, supporting the Horns Rev offshore wind farm where over 10,000 successful personnel transfers have taken place.[11][12]

Variants[edit]

Cornwall Air Ambulance EC135 G-KRNW overhead at Polzeath, August 2008
EC135 T2 air ambulance of the Austrian Air Rescue service in Klagenfurt, Austria
A Eurocopter EC135 of the German Brandenburg State Police
An ADAC EC135 taking off from Bonn University Clinic
Bavarian State Police Eurocopter EC135 P2, Germany
Eurocopter EC135 T2 providing law enforcement and medical assistance in the Avon and Somerset Police, and Gloucestershire Police areas, based at Bristol Filton Airport, England.
EC135 P1 
Powered by two 463 kW (621 shp) Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B. Later versions have the Center Panel Display System (CPDS). Initial maximum take-off weight (M.T.O.W.) of 2,631 kg (5,800 lbs), later raised to 2,721 kg (6,000 lbs) and then 2,835 kg (6,250 lbs).
EC135 T1 
Powered by two 435 kW (583 shp) Turbomeca Arrius 2B1/2B1A/2B1A1. Later versions have the CPDS. Initial M.T.O.W. of 2,631 kg (5,800 lbs), later raised to 2,721 kg (6,000 lbs) and then 2,835 kg (6,250 lbs).
EC135 P2 
Powered by two 463 kW (621 shp) Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B2. Increased thermodynamic and mechanic OEI ratings (128% OEI torque). Replaced EC135 P1 in production in August 2001.
EC135 T2 
Powered by two 452 kW (606 shp) Turbomeca Arrius 2B2. Increased thermodynamic and mechanic OEI ratings (128% OEI torque). Replaced EC135 T1 in production in August 2002.
EC135 P2+ 
Latest production version with 498 kW (667 shp) PW206B2 (new power ratings based on a FADEC software upgrade), plus a 2,910 kg (6,415 lbs) M.T.O.W. upgrade, extended component time between overhaul (TBOs), and a change in the main transmission lubricating oil.[13] Built in Germany and Spain.
EC135 T2+ 
Latest production version with 473 kW (634 shp) Arrius 2B2 engines (new power ratings based on a FADEC software upgrade), plus a 2,910 kg (6,415 lbs) M.T.O.W. upgrade, extended component TBOs, and a change in the main transmission lubricating oil. Built in Germany and Spain.
EC135 P2i 
Marketing designation of aircraft upgraded to (rather than built to) EC135 P2+ standard.
EC135 T2i 
Marketing designation of aircraft upgraded to (rather than built to) EC135 T2+ standard.
EC 635
Military variant originally developed to meet a Portuguese Army requirement for a fire support and medical evacuation helicopter. Presently, operated by Jordan, Swiss and Iraqi armed forces.[citation needed]

Operators[edit]

The EC135 is popular with air charter companies, air ambulance operators and is operated by private individuals and companies.

Civil Operators[edit]

 Australia
 Canada
 Germany
 Japan
 Lithuania
 Norway
 Poland
 Slovenia
 Spain
 Sweden
 United States

Military Operators[edit]

EC135 T1 of the German Army
 Gabon
 Germany
 Ireland
 Japan
 Morocco
 Spain

Specifications (EC135 P2+/T2+)[edit]

EC135 T2 at Glasgow City Heliport, owned and operated by Bond Helicopters, UK
Privately operated EC135 T2 'N614G' at Newnan-Coweta County Airport

Data from Eurocopter EC135 2008 Tech Data book

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1 pilot
  • Capacity: up to seven passengers or two crew and two patients (Air Ambulance variant) or 1,455 kg (3,208 lb) payload
  • Length: 12.16 m (39 ft 11 in)
  • Height: 3.51 m (11 ft 6 in)
  • Empty weight: 1,455 kg (3,208 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 2,910 kg (6,415 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Turboméca Arrius 2B2 turboshaft engines, 472 kW (633 hp) each or 2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B turboshaft engines rated at 463 kW (621 hp) (take-off power)
  • Main rotor diameter: 10.2 m (33 ft 6 in)
  • Main rotor area: 81.7 m2 (879 sq ft)

Performance

  • Cruising speed: 254 km/h (158 mph; 137 kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 287 km/h (178 mph; 155 kn)
  • Range: 635 km (395 mi; 343 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 6,096 m (20,000 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 7.62 m/s (1,500 ft/min)

See also[edit]

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ "Eurocopter officially hands over its 1,000th EC135 helicopter to the ADAC". Eurocopter, 21 July 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d Pope 2006, p. 1.
  3. ^ Pope 2006, pp. 1-2.
  4. ^ Pope 2006, p. 2.
  5. ^ "Fly-by-light EC135 helicopter makes first flight." Flight International, 5 February 2002.
  6. ^ "EC135 Helicopter to be built in China". Retrieved 18 July 2011. 
  7. ^ "Eurocopter delivers 1000th EC135." shephardmedia.com, 21 July 2013.
  8. ^ Ozbek, Tolga. "EC135 picked for Turkish air ambulance duties." Flight International, 9 May 2013.
  9. ^ EC135 Selected for Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Farm
  10. ^ UK Civil Aviation offshore wind guidelines for helicopter operations
  11. ^ Uni-Fly Personnel Transfer Video
  12. ^ "Uni-Fly A/S". Uni-fly.dk. Retrieved 2013-05-05. 
  13. ^ "Type Acceptance Report" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-05-05. 
  14. ^ "Victorian Police". Retrieved 6 April 2013. 
  15. ^ "New South Wales Police". 
  16. ^ "Eurocopter Canada delivers two EC135P2+ to Ontario Provincial Police". helihub.com. Retrieved 17-March-2013. 
  17. ^ "ADAC orders 14 EC145T2 and 3 EC135P2e". helihub.com. Retrieved 17-March-2013. 
  18. ^ "Turbomeca sign support agreement with German Federal Police". helihub.com. Retrieved 17-March-2013. 
  19. ^ "Eurocopter Japan delivers EC135T2 to National Police Agency". helihub.com. Retrieved 17-March-2013. 
  20. ^ "Valstybės sienos apsaugos tarnyba". Pasienis.lt. 2013-04-30. Retrieved 2013-05-05. 
  21. ^ "Norwegian Police lease second EC135". helihub.com. Retrieved 17-March-2013. 
  22. ^ "About us — Polish Medical Air Rescue (Lotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe)". Retrieved 17 June 2013. 
  23. ^ "Heli-One upgrades EC135 for Slovenian National Police". helihub.com. Retrieved 17-March-2013. 
  24. ^ Dirección General de la Policía. "Servicio de Medios Aéreos-Helicópteros". Retrieved 20 March 2013. 
  25. ^ "Swedish Police to add seventh base and another EC135". helihub.com. Retrieved 5 April 2013. 
  26. ^ "Broward County Sheriff orders third EC135". helihub.com. Retrieved 17-March-2013. 
  27. ^ "CALSTAR launches new Eurocopter EC135s". helihub.com. Retrieved 17-March-2013. 
  28. ^ a b c d "World Air Forces 2013". Flightglobal Insight. 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2013. 
  29. ^ "Gabon's new Helicopter!". smallairforces.com. Retrieved 17-March-2013. 
  30. ^ "The Moroccan Royal Gendarmerie is recognized for its 50 years of Eurocopter helicopter operations". eurocopter.com. Retrieved 17-March-2013. 
  31. ^ "Moroccan Royal Gendarmerie EC-135T". Demand media. Retrieved 17-March-2013. 
  32. ^ "Materiales - Helicópteros - HE-26". Ministerio de Defensa de España. Retrieved 26 March 2013. 

Bibliography[edit]

External links[edit]

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