Operational history Eurocopter EC135

an adac ec135 taking off bonn university clinic, 2008

deliveries started on 1 august 1996, when 2 helicopters (0005 , 0006) handed on deutsche rettungsflugwacht. 100th ec135 handed on bavarian police force in june 1999; point worldwide fleet had accumulated approximately 30,000 flight hours. in september 2003, 300th ec135 handed on uk-based mcalpine helicopters; @ point, ec135 best selling new light twin-engine helicopter in uk market.

in 2011, eurocopter announced 1,000th ec135 produced had been delivered german operator adac, 15 years following start of production. in 2012, flying magazine recognised ec135 being industry s best selling twin-engine helicopter . world fleet leader in flight hours type g-nesv (s/n 0067), operated cleveland police air operations unit based @ durham tees valley airport, uk. delivered north east air support unit in april 1999, first ec135 worldwide attain total of 10,000 flying hours.

in 2009, ec135 first aircraft selected offshore wind support in uk after civil aviation authority approved helicopter operations greater gabbard offshore wind farm. ec135 has been used in denmark support horns rev offshore wind farm, 2013, on 10,000 successful personnel transfers have taken place using type. in mexico, apoyo logístico aéreo has operated fleet of ec135s servicing extensive oil , gas offshore platforms in gulf of mexico.

ec135 t1 of french operator saf hélicoptères during rescue operation

in 2013, reported ec135 providing 25% of world s total emergency medic services flights, , on 500 ec135s have been delivered in aeromedical configuration. late 2013, during brief grounding of type instigated due safety concerns of fuel gauges, noted ec135 made half of uk s operational air ambulance fleet. in october 2014, first ec135 air ambulance delivered in chinese market took place.

the german army operates total of 14 ec135s basic trainers @ school of army aviation in bückeburg, these have had average operational availability in excess of 95 per cent; in 2014, german army noted there potential vibration-induced rotor cracking during autorotation training, shortening life of main rotor. in october 2014, australian department of defence announced ec135 procured primary training platform both australian army , royal australian navy. total of 13 ec135 trainers have been procured japanese maritime self-defense force, have been designed th-135.

in december 2014, first production ec135 t3 formally entered service aiut alpin dolomites, mountain rescue operator based in italy. in june 2015, airbus helicopters delivered first retrofitted h135 earlier ec135 standard; changes include enlarged main rotor, relocated engine air intakes, elevated engine performance, , horizontal stabiliser s endplates removed , span increased. in may 2016, french defense procurement agency awarded airbus helicopters contract retrofit 35 ec135 used sécurité civile newer avionics.

in october 2015, waypoint leasing , airbus helicopters signed agreement acquisition of 20 ec135 public leasing purposes.