Airbus Helicopters has delivered one H135 to Health Commission of Qingdao in China’s Shandong Province, making this helicopter the first of 100 light twin-engine H135s to be delivered to China per a framework agreement signed in June 2016. 

The H135 was delivered in HEMS configuration, fully equipped with the latest medical interior, and will perform EMS missions in Qingdao and the surrounding area. It is the first H135 to be delivered to China with Airbus’ latest generation Helionix avionics suite, which increases safety and decreases pilot workload.

At the ceremony, United General Aviation Industrial Development Co. Ltd. (UGA), Airbus Helicopters’ distributor in China, signed a contract with Eastern General Aviation Company for two H135s. UGA has also previously secured a framework agreement with Qingdao Huatong Financial Leasing Co. Ltd. (Huatong Leasing) for six H135s.

The first five H135s of the order for 100, including the one delivered today, are being assembled in Donauwörth, Germany, where Chinese final assembly line (FAL) employees have been receiving on-the-job training from their German counterparts since April 2018. The remaining 95 will be assembled in Qingdao on the H135 FAL which broke ground in 2017.

Construction of the FAL is on track for completion by the end of 2018, followed by entry into operation in early 2019.

Airbus Helicopters claims to hold the leading position in the Chinese civil and parapublic helicopter market, with around 280 helicopters serving 75 customers.