Development of the Airbus Helicopters H175’s public services version is well underway and the first three shipments, to Hong Kong’s Government Flying Service, are scheduled for the end of the year. Meanwhile, the medium twin’s main market, offshore oil-and-gas, is still down and only 12 H175s are in service. Launch customer NHV received the first aircraft in December 2014.
For the new variant, missions may include search-and-rescue, emergency medical services, and law enforcement. Among other additions, it includes a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) system, a hoist and a searchlight. It is designed to be operated by a typical crew of four, and the cockpit is fully compatible with using night-vision goggles. A central display supports a digital map supplied by EuroAvionics, six external cameras (including the FLIR) and radar image.
As of late February, Airbus test pilots and engineers had logged “between 50 and 60” flight hours on the new version. Hong Kong’s Government Flying Service has ordered a total seven H175s to replace its fleet of EC155 Dauphins and AS332 L2 Super Pumas.
Airbus Helicopters received orders for eight H175s last year. Ten examples of the 16- to 18-seater were produced in 2016, but only eight deliveries took place, the other two having been postponed to 2017. Between 12 and 14 handovers are scheduled for this year, slightly down from expectations expressed five months ago.
Offshore operator NHV last month announced its eight H175s had logged a combined 10,000 flight hours, corresponding to 4,750 flights. The longest distance NHV has flown non-stop with passengers and cargo is 180 nautical miles.
Airbus engineers keep improving their product, notably by solving maturity issues. The locking device on the right cargo door, for example, was recently modified. Last December, the H175 was certified with an maximum takeoff weight increase to 7.8 metric tons (17,180 pounds). This translates into a 300 kilogram (660 pounds) of payload enhancement or an additional 40 nautical miles in range.
The first flight with a Pall filter using vortex generators took place last year. Integration is ongoing. The new generation of such inertial particle separators is more aerodynamically efficient and they cause less installation losses, the airframer says.
The equipment for flight into limited icing conditions was certified last November. A full icing protection system, which will include rotor blade deicing, is on the backburner.
