Airbus Helicopters picked up several fleet orders and announced plans to establish a joint-venture training center in Germany this week at European Rotors.

ÖAMTC Air Rescue placed an order for two Airbus H135 helicopters—a follow-on to an initial contract for five H135s signed in late 2020. ÖAMTC Air Rescue currently operates 31 H135s from 17 permanent bases and four additional winter bases in Austria. 

Airbus Helicopters also sold of a pair of single-engine H125s to Lithuanian operator ASU Baltija. They will be the first H125s in the country and will replace rotorcraft of Russian manufacture. The helicopters will be used for passenger transport and utility missions.

Today, the Norwegian Air Ambulance inked a deal with Airbus for three H135s and two five-blade H145s. Norwegian Air Ambulance operates all 13 HEMS bases in Norway and all four bases in Denmark using a fleet of Helionix-equipped H135s and H145s.

Meanwhile, Airbus Helicopters revealed a joint venture with Germany’s ADAC HEMS Academy to establish a new “HMotion” simulator training center for H135s and H145s. The academy will begin operations in 2024, initially integrating the full-flight simulators at Airbus Helicopters Donauwörth with the ADAC HEMS Academy in Sankt Augustin near Bonn. In 2025, the simulators will be transferred to a new training center in Oberpfaffenhofen, near the Munich International Airport.