2
Photo Info

Airbus provides H135 upgrade details

By Vertical Mag | October 8, 2015

Estimated reading time 3 minutes, 4 seconds.

Airbus Helicopters “new” H135 will be equipped with the manufacturer’s Helionix avionics system. Airbus Helicopters Image
Airbus Helicopters has provided more details about the “new” H135 that was revealed at Helitech International in London, England, yesterday.
The major change will see light twin-engine aircraft equipped with the manufacturer’s in-house Helionix avionics system, but it will also feature a four-axis autopilot, and a redesigned aft cabin roof for 165 liters more cabin space.
The Helionix system was introduced into service through the H145 and H175 last year, and is set to be included in Airbus Helicopters’ newly-unveiled H160. Speaking to Vertical, Axel Humpert, head of the H135 program at Airbus Helicopters, said the addition of Helionix and four-axis autopilot would help increase situational awareness and reduce pilot workload.
“Just imagine you are over the sea, in front of a mountain, or on a building and you want to stabilize your flight on the spot, on the point, then the fourth axis is the one that helps the pilot to reduce his workload and concentrate on the environment or whatever his duties are,” he said.
Another benefit, he said, was that it brought the H135 in line with the manufacturer’s “family concept” of a common avionics system. “It allows operators who are operating several models of our fleet to reduce the cost of training and type conversion. That’s a big benefit.”
The additional space has been created from the redesigned engine air inlet that was changed from the EC135 T2/P2 version to the EC135 T3/P3 (H135). This allowed the manufacturer to move avionics equipment from behind the rear headrests, creating the additional space.
The upgrade is set to be certified by the end of 2016, with deliveries set to begin in 2017 to launch customer the Norwegian Air Ambulance.
Humpert said the manufacturer would continue taking orders for the existing version of the H135 (equipped with a Meghas avionics suite) for operators looking for fleet commonality, but would produce only the Helionix-equipped version from 2017/18.
There will be no price increase for the new version of the H135, Humpert added. “Of course we have a new avionics system, which offers more — the fourth axis, the functions— but as we are installing it throughout our fleet, we have a price advantage which we return to the customer.”

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

HAI Heli-Expo 2024 Recap

Notice a spelling mistake or typo?

Click on the button below to send an email to our team and we will get to it as soon as possible.

Report an error or typo

Have a story idea you would like to suggest?

Click on the button below to send an email to our team and we will get to it as soon as possible.

Suggest a story