Eurocopter EC145
| EC 145 | |
|---|---|
-SchweizerischeRettungsflugwacht.jpg)
| |
| Eurocopter EC 145 of the Rega air rescue service. | |
| Role | Medium utility helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Eurocopter Group |
| First flight | 12 June 1999 |
| Introduction | 2002 |
| Developed from | MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 |
| Variants | UH-72 Lakota |
The Eurocopter EC 145 is a twin-engine light utility helicopter manufactured by Eurocopter. Originally referred to as the BK 117 C2, the EC 145 is based upon the MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 C1, which became a part of the Eurocopter line-up in 1992 when the company was formed through the merger of the Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm helicopter division of Daimler-Benz and the helicopter division of Aérospatiale-Matra. The EC 145 is a twin-engine aircraft and can carry up to nine passengers along with two crew, depending on customer configuration. The helicopter is marketed for passenger transport, corporate transport, emergency medical services (EMS), search and rescue, parapublic and utility roles.
Development
The EC 145 was a joint development between Eurocopter and Kawasaki Heavy Industries with the aim of significantly increasing the cabin space and take-off weight of the BK 117 C1, and upgrading the BK117's avionics in line with the systems developed for the EC 135. Type-certificated as the BK 117 C2, the helicopter was selected by the French Defense and Civil Guard for air rescue missions in December 1997, and 32 were ordered at a cost of one billion French francs. The first BK 117 C2 completed its maiden flight at Donauwörth on 12 June 1999, and a second prototype aircraft was built at Kawasaki's plant in Gifu.
Eurocopter designated the new model as the EC 145 with the third prototype in April 2000, and safety certification was awarded by the German Luftfahrt-Bundesamt and Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau in December 2000. The EC 145 was shown at the Paris Air Show in 2001, and more civilian orders followed. Safety certification was awarded by the United States FAA in February 2002, and the helicopter was shown at the Heli-Expo event in Orlando, Florida in the same year.
The latest variant of the model is the EC-145T2 which was unveiled at Heli Expo 2011 in Orlando, Florida. The EC-145T2 features an advanced cockpit design, modern avioncs, 4-axis autopilot and a Fenestron tail rotor. The new model will retain the existing Turbomeca Arriel 2E engines. <ref[1]</ref>
Design
The EC 145 features a larger cabin space than the older BK 117 C1 helicopter with internal space increased by 46 cm (18 in) in length and 13 cm (5 in) in width, increasing cabin volume by 1.0 m³ (35 ft³) to 6.0 m³ (211 ft³). Other improvements over the older helicopter include an increased maximum take-off weight and increased range, achieved with improved rotor blades made of composite materials, based on the EC 135's rotors. These are combined with a hingeless rotor system with a monolithic titanium hub, and are powered by two Turboméca Arriel 1E2 turboshaft engines. The cabin can seat eight or nine passengers and has a level floor throughout with access from both sides and the rear of the helicopter. The all-glass cockpit consists of a Thales Avionics MEGHAS Flight Control Display System with active matrix liquid crystal displays.
The cabin arrangement allows for one or two pilots with eight passengers in a club seating configuration, or nine passengers in a high density seating configuration. The EMS/casualty evacuation arrangement can carry up to two stretchered patients with three medical staff. The helicopter can be fitted with emergency floats, rescue hoist, search light, load hook and specialist equipment for other operational requirements.
Operational history
The French Sécurité Civile (Civil Guard), French Gendarmerie and the Landespolizei (State Police) of Hesse, Germany became the first operators of the EC 145 when they received initial deliveries of the helicopter in April 2002.[citation needed] Two of the Sécurité Civile helicopters have crashed since delivery, with one being lost during a mountain rescue operation on Mount Arbizon in the French Pyrenees on 20 July 2003 and the other crashing during a police rescue exercise near Garvarnie in the Pyrenees on 5 June 2006 with the loss of three lives.[1]
In 2006, the "UH-145", a military variant of the EC 145, was selected for the United States Army's Light Utility Helicopter Program, beating three other helicopters. The deal involves the supply of 345 helicopters, with options for additional aircraft. The total value (including service and maintenance) is approximately $3 billion.[2]
The planned 345 helicopters have been designated UH-72 Lakota by the U.S. Department of Defense for the United States Army. The first UH-72A was delivered in December 2006.
Variants
- EC 145
- UH-72A Lakota
- Light Utility Helicopter for the US Army; 345 planned for domestic use.
- Armed Scout 645
- A proposed armed version of the UH-72/EC145 being offered for the US Army's OH-58D replacement program.
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- 1 ordered by Australian Customs in March 2007 for rapid response helicopter service operating from Gove, Northern Territory and expected to be delivered in April 2008.[3]
- 1 in service with True North Helicopters.[4]
- 2 utilised by the Ambulance Service of New South Wales Greater Sydney Helicopter Emergency Medical Service. Operational problems have meant that they are currently grounded. [5]
- 1 in service with Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen (NHV) for air ambulance duties operating from Bra-sur-Lienne.[6]
- 2 in service with HIKO (Heli Kompanija).
- 30 in service with the French Defense and Civil Guard (Sécurité Civile) for mountain rescue duties. 32 were delivered between 2002 and 2005, but 2 have since crashed.5 more on order
- 15 in service with the French Gendarmerie with another 6 ordered in 2009 for operation in overseas territories (French Guiana, New Caledonia, Reunion, Mayotte and Martinique).[7]
- 2 in service with ADAC Air Rescue Service for air ambulance duties.[8]
- 1 in service with Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht (DRF) for emergency rescue operations.[9]
- 3 in service with Hessian State Police (Polizeihubschrauberstaffel Hessen).[10]
- 1 in service with Thuringian State Police (Polizeihubschrauberstaffel Thüringen).
- 2 ordered by National Utility Helicopters to be used for corporate chartering services in Indonesia.[11]
- MOU agreed for up to 45 helicopters; some final assembly will be performed by a joint venture in Astana.[12]
- 1 delivered in 2007 to the State Border Guard Service of Lithuania, to be used for external ES border patrol and coast guard operations in the Baltic Sea.[13]
- 1 delivered in 2005 to the corporate operator Aeropersonal, for VIP use.[14]
- 1 in service with Transportes Aéreos Pegaso for Gulf of Mexico oilfield operations.[15]
- 1 in service with Norsk Luftambulanse for air ambulance duties.
- 2 Donation from Spain.
- 2 ordered by INAER to be delivered between 2007 and 2009 and will be used for emergency medical service operations.[16]
- At least 1 in use by Ministry of Emergency Situations (shown on MAKS Airshow 2009).
- 6 in service with Rega Swiss Air Ambulance for emergency medical missions.[18]
- 1 in service with Bangkok Hospital (BGH) in association with Bangkok Airways for air ambulance duties operating from Bangkok.
- 3 delivered in 2007 to the Metropolitan Police Air Support Unit at Loughton, Essex as replacement for the Squirrel fleet.[19]
- 1 delivered in 2010 to the Police Service of Northern Ireland[20]
- 1 delivered in 2010 to Devon and Cornwall Police [21]
See also: UH-72 Lakota
- 12 operated by Air Methods, Englewood, Colorado. Air Methods' Product division has also completed EC 145 EMS aircraft for several external customers, including Air Life of Oregon, UMass, Mayo Clinic[22], and Geisinger Health System.
- 3 operated by Mayo Clinic Health System [23]
- 4 operated by Allegheny Life Flight.
- 8 ordered by Era Helicopters in 2007 for oil and gas support in the Gulf of Mexico.[24]
- 2 in-service with Flight for Life, to replace two aging BK117 helicopters at bases in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and McHenry, Illinois. Potential for 1 more in 2010.
- 5 entering service with Geisinger Life Flight to replace Eurocopter BK117 & Sikorsky S-76 helicopters in the air medical service role in central and northeastern Pennsylvania.[25]
- 1 in service with Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse, WI. Operated by Air Methods.
- 1 in service with Lee County Emergency Medical Services in Florida.(Crashed in Pine Island Sound August 17, 2009. All 3 crew members survived. Aircraft total loss.)[26]
- 1 in service with LifeStar, an air medical helicopter operated by Emergycare in Erie, Pennsylvania.
- 4 in service with Lifeline, an air medical helicopter operated by IU Health in Indiana
- 5 in service with Memorial Hermann Life Flight in Houston Texas.
- 3 in service with The MetroHealth System for air ambulance services in Cleveland, Ohio.[27]
- 1 in service with [2], a program affiliated with the Stanford University Medical Center and Hospital. Operated by Air Methods.
- 6 in service with STAT MedEvac operating air ambulance services from Pittsburgh.
- 1 in service with Suffolk County Police Department, equipped with an extensive range of mission gear.
- 2 in service with Austin/Travis County STAR Flight which replaced EC135 helicopters for emergency medical services in Austin/Travis County, Texas.[28]
- 1 in service with Air Methods in Northeast Oklahoma. It could be at one of three bases located in Pryor, Keefeton, or Drumright at any given time. Initially a pair replaced 2 aging BK117s in 2007 that had been in operation since 1987. They didn't stay for long though. Tulsa Life Flight is no longer based in Tulsa, Oklahoma and operates three different bases in Oklahoma using 1 newer EC-145, 1 BK-117, and 1 AS-350.
- 1 in service with UMASS Lifeflight, operated by the University of Massachusetts hospital in Worcester, MA.
- 1 in service plus 1 on order with Carilion Clinic Life-Guard, Roanoke, VA
- 3 in service with Vanderbilt University Medical Center for its LifeFlight air ambulance service in Tennessee, operated by Air Methods.[29]
- 1 in service with / Wyoming Medical Center .
- 2 in service with EastCare - University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina, Greenville, North Carolina
- 1 to replace a BK117 of the LIFE STAR fleet of Hartford Hospital, CT
- 1 in service with MidAtlantic MedEvac (Hahnemann University Hospital, Phila., Pa.) as Medevac 3. One of the former Tulsa Life Flight aircraft
- LifeFlight Eagle also has a EC-145 helicopter that is used by Children's Mercy Hospital's Critical Care Transport Team to provide specialty hospital to hospital treatment and transport of pediatric patients. Kansas City, MO [30]
Specifications (EC 145)
Data from Eurocopter EC 145 technical data,[31] EC 145 specs[32]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 or 2 (pilots)
- Capacity: 9 passengers
Performance
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
- ^ Police Aviation News - Accidents & Incidents
- ^ Reuters http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=reutersEdge&storyID=2006-07-02T115551Z_01_L01261856_RTRUKOC_0_US-ARMS-EUROCOPTER.xml&pageNumber=2&imageid=&cap=&sz=13&WTModLoc=NewsArt-C1-ArticlePage2.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Australian Aerospace News & Events - Contract Signed For One New EC 145 Helicopter
- ^ Eurocopter - First EC 145 Delivered In The South Pacific
- ^ Rescue choppers in poor health
- ^ Belgian Aviation History Association - New Helicopter For Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen (NHV)
- ^ Aerospace Technology - Eurocopter EC 145 Helicopter
- ^ EADS N.V. - EC 145 Sets New Standards For Emergency Medical Services
- ^ DRF - Aircraft Data
- ^ Flug Revue Online - First EC 145s Delivered
- ^ EADS N.V. - Eurocopter South East Asia & National Utility Helicopters Sign Contract For 2 EC 145 helicopters
- ^ "Kazakhstan seeks defence deal for 45 EC145s". Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ^ EADS N.V. - Lithuanian Border Guard Orders Eurocopter EC 135 & EC 145
- ^ AviationNow - Eurocopter Mexico Sells First EC 145...
- ^ EADS N.V. - Eurocopter Delivers 400th EC135 For Offshore Operations In Mexico
- ^ EADS N.V. - The INAER Group Continues The Renewal Of Its Fleet With Nine New Eurocopter Helicopters
- ^ EADS N.V. - SOS Helicopter Of Sweden Orders First EC 145 In The Scandinavian Market
- ^ ROTOR On Line - To Care For Patients In The Best Possible Conditions
- ^ BBC News - Met Police Unveil New Helicopters
- ^ "Police spend £7m on helicopter". BBC News. 3 August 2010.
- ^ http://www.shephard.co.uk/news/rotorhub/devon-amp-cornwall-police-take-delivery-of-a-new-ec145-helicopter/5803/
- ^ 9 News at 7am, KUSA-TV, Channel 9, NBC, Denver, Colorado, aired 7:00-8:00am, MST
- ^ Mayo One Medical Transport
- ^ Aviation Today - Era Orders 20 Eurocopters For Offshore, New EMS Services
- ^ Airborne Law Enforcement Association Press Releases - Geisinger Life Flight Selects Eurocopter EC 145
- ^ Eurocopter - Breaks The Bank In Las Vegas
- ^ American Eurocopter - MetroHealth To Update Metro Life Flight Fleet with Eurocopter EC 145s
- ^ STARFlight Rescue - Helicopters
- ^ Vanderbilt LifeFlight Press Release - Vanderbilt Integrates, Expands Transportation Services To Lebanon, Purchases Three State-Of-The-Art Helicopters
- ^ http://www.lifeflighteagle.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=65:what-kind-of-aircraft-does-lifeflight-eagle-fly&catid=25:general-program-questions&Itemid=50
- ^ "Eurocopter EC 145 Technical Data" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-07-17.
- ^ EC 145 Technical Specs, Eurocopter USA.
External links
- Eurocopter EC 145
- EC 145 page on EurocopterUSA.com
- Eurocopter EC 145 on Aerospace-Technology.com
- Eurocopter EC 145 on Flug Revue site
- Eurocopter EC 145 on Helicopter Association International site
- Eurocopter EC 145 on Rega.ch
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