Eurocopter EC130
| EC130 Ecureuil | |
|---|---|
| |
| One of the Long Beach Police Department's EC130 B4 helicopters refuels at Rialto, California. | |
| Role | Light utility |
| Manufacturer | Eurocopter |
| First flight | 24 June 1999 |
| Introduction | 2001 |
| Developed from | Eurocopter AS350 |
The Eurocopter EC130 is a single engine light helicopter developed from the AS350 Ecureuil airframe. Eurocopter has called the EC130 "the Alouette III successor".[1]
Design and development
The EC130 is a wide body variant of the AS350 B3, and was first flown on 24 June 1999. The EC130 features an enclosed tail fan rather than the traditional tail rotor found on the older AS350. This Fenestron has unevenly spaced blades which has the advantage of reducing outside noise by 50% compared to a tail rotor, resulting in an FAA Appendix H fly-over noise signature of 84.3 EPNdB, 8.5 dB below stage two limits. The EC130 was designed in close cooperation with tour operators with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters being the launch operator, and features a spacious cockpit with excellent external visibility, capable of accommodating seven tourists. The EC130 entered service with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters in 2001, and is now a common sight in Hawaii and the Grand Canyon.
The EC130 is also quickly becoming popular within the air medical services (AMS) community, due to its large cabin (capable of accommodating one or two stretchers), wide side door and enclosed Fenestron anti-torque device.
In 2012, Eurocopter received orders for 50 EC130T2 from Maverick Helicopters, and other customers such as Papillon and Blue Hawaiian took the total to 105.[2]
Variants
- EC130 B4
- basic version.
- EC130T2
Upgraded airframe, engines (Turbomecca Ariel 2D), and increased performance.
Operators
Law Enforcement operators
- Misiones Province Police In April 2010 The Misiones Province Police acquired a Eurocopter EC130 B4
- Military Police of Paraná State operates two EC130 B4 helicopters for law enforcement and air ambulance duties.
- Broward County Sheriff's Office operates one Eurocopter EC130 B4 helicopter.
- Long Beach Police Department operates two Eurocopter EC130 B4 helicopters.
Civilian operators
- Microflite Helicopter Services operate two EC 130 B4 helicopters for charter and aerial work purposes
- The MAC Rescue Helicopter Service/MedSTAR operates an EC130 B4 for emergency situations. It is also made available to the South Australian Police who use the aircraft for both crime prevention and also in the pursuit of motor vehicles and suspects.
- One EC130 B4 operated by 12 Apostles Helicopters for joyflights
- Capitale Hélicoptère - three three EC130 B4 based in Québec City Airport, QC
- Great Slave Helicopters - three EC130 B4 in service, based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
- Ontario Ministry Of Natural Resources - four EC130 B4
- Phoenix Heli-Flight Inc. - one EC130 B4
- Eagle Copters Ltd. - one EC130 B4
- Silverline Helicopters Inc. - one EC130 B4
- Aviation Fox Inc. - one EC130 B4
- Aviation Peak Inc. - one EC130 B4
- J. B. Air Inc. - one EC130 B4
- Finnair Ltd - one EC130 B4
- Helipsair - one EC130 B4 based in Mirabel Airport, QC
- one EC130 B4 in service with Johann Lafer's Heli Gourmet service which combines helicopter travel with an outdoor eating experience.[3]
- 3 helicopters are operated in Guatemala by private individuals.
- Six EC130 B4 in service with Heli Air Monaco.
- One EC130 B4 in service with Over The Top, a helicopter tour company based in Queenstown.[4]
- One EC130 B4 operated by Heli Air Hawkes Bay for executive transport and tourism
- One EC130 B4 operated by Wanaka Helicopters
- Four EC130 B4 in service with Heli Holland.
- Helibravo operates EC130 B4. [5]
- One EC130 B4 in service with Falcon Aviation Services and two more ordered in 2007.[6]
- Eight EC130 B4 helicopters are in service with air medical services provider MedFlight of Ohio.
- Six EC130 B4 helicopters in service with air medical services provider Air Methods.
- Fourteen EC130 B4 helicopters in service with tour operator Blue Hawaiian Helicopters.
- Three EC130 B4 helicopters in service with tour operator Grand Canyon Helicopters.
- Thirty four EC130 B4 helicopters in service with tour operator Maverick Helicopters based in Las Vegas.
- Three EC130 B4 helicopters in service with air medical services provider Medi Flight Oklahoma, based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
- Seven EC130 B4 in service with tour operator Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters.
- Two EC130 B4 in service with tour operator Sundance Helicopters, based in Las Vegas.
- Six EC130 B4 in service with tour operator Sunshine Helicopters in Hawaii.
- Two EC130 B4 in service with tour operator Stars and Stripes Air Tours Las Vegas, Nevada
- One EC130 B4 in service (Air Care 1) with the University of Iowa Clinics, Iowa City, Ia.
Specifications (EC130 B4)
Data from {Eurocopter EC130 B4 2008 tech data book}
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 (pilot in left seat)
- Capacity: 6 passengers (2 at front and four at back) can be modified to take 7 passengers (3 at front and four at back)
Performance
Avionics
Vehicle and Engine Multifunction Display (VEMD) with First Limit Indicator (FLI) fitted as standard.
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
- ^ The Alouette III successor
- ^ Moorman, Robert. "Recovery: Real or imagined ?" p30, Rotor & Wing, March 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
- ^ Eurocopter Press Release - Eurocopter & Johann Lafer's "Heli Gourmet" Display Brand New EC130 B4 At ILA
- ^ Helicopter Co Leads Way With $3.5 Mil Aircraft
- ^ http://www.helibravo.com/fleet
- ^ Eurocopter Press Release - FAS Enlarges Its Fleet & Orders 2 EC130 & 2 AS365 N3 Eurocopter Helicopters
External links
- Eurocopter EC130 Ecureuil page
- EASA Type Certificate R.008 AS350/EC130
- The ECOSTAR: A new era in Helicopter Tourism
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