First flight of the EC135 T2+ (Australian Defence Force variant) at the Donauwörth plant in Germany. Charles Abarr Photos/Airbus Helicopters
The first EC135 T2+ in a planned fleet of modern, twin-engine rotary wing aircraft being acquired by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for its new Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS) has completed its first flight in Europe.
Under the HATS project, a joint training scheme for both Army and Navy aircraft will utilize some 15 Airbus Helicopters EC135 T2+ trainers, along with EC135 flight simulators and a new flight deck-equipped, sea-going vessel.
Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) is the prime contractor for the new training system, partnered by Thales Australia, which will provide the flight simulators.
The first EC135 T2+ (serial number 1179) took off from the Airbus Helicopters production site in Donauwörth, Germany, where the helicopter is assembled, at 2:47 p.m. local time on Jan. 16, and landed back onsite 57 minutes later.
The Airbus Helicopters Flight Test Department reported the successful first flight had validated the full performance of the aircraft’s systems and engines, and that future flights would test specific customer equipment.
Boeing Defence Australia is prime contractor and Thales Australia supplies flight simulators for the EC135 T2+.
Said Peter Harris, Airbus Helicopters head of sales for Australia Pacific: “At Airbus Helicopters we are thrilled to have reached such a fantastic milestone in only two months from contract signing last November. This clearly demonstrates the commitment that we have to supporting Boeing Defence Australia in meeting the ADF’s needs for training all future combat helicopter aircrew for the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army. We will take all of our milestones just as seriously.”
While the EC135 T2+ is a civil design helicopter, it has also proven to be a consummate military trainer. With a high-visibility glass cockpit, multi-axis autopilot and the performance and safety of a twin-engine helicopter replacing current single-engine types, it is similar to the multi-role and combat helicopters now in service with the ADF — including new-generation Tiger ARH and MRH90 helicopters — and meets all training, technical and safety requirement for future Army and Navy aircrews.
Initial operating capability (IOC) is scheduled for late 2018, although students will begin arriving earlier. When fully IOC the HATS system will accommodate up to 130 students a year, covering pilots, aviation warfare officers, crewmembers, sensor operators and qualified aircrew returning for instructor training.
