Airbus Helicopters

The new medium twin rotorcraft will replace the airframer's H155 family. It is on display at Heli-Expo in Las Vegas.

H135-family global fleet has accumulated a total of more than 4.5 million flight hours since service entry of the first EC135 helicopter in 1996.

Reductions will begin in April, with an elimination of all Sunday flights, followed by 20 percent cuts each in June and October and 10 percent in January.

H155 to be basis for civil and armed helicopters in $1.5 billion deal.

The handover ceremony took place in Marignane (South of France) on December 11.

First EC175 medium twin to be delivered on December 11, while first EC135T3 will be handed over on December 9.

Delivery ceremony will take place 10 months after certification and five years after the first flight.

Airbus said the technologies being tested are “transversal,” meaning not specifically meant for any one particular helicopter model.

A level D simulator has begun operating at the Helisim training center in Marignane, France.

The EC175’s main gearbox has no backup lubrication system