In late June, the new H145 arrived in Chile to start its high altitude flight campaign. The flights will be performed on the Andes, at altitudes up to 20,000 feet above sea level. The objective of this campaign is to demonstrate its capabilities and performances at high altitudes, in hot and high conditions, present in many countries in Latin America.

The flight campaign will provide some operators with the opportunity to fly this version and experience first-hand the improvements brought by the new five-bladed rotor.

The H145 comes with this new five-bladed rotor enabling to reach a maximum take-off weight raised to 3,800 kg and an increased load of 150 kg now equivalent to the aircraft’s empty weight. The reduced rotor diameter will allow the four-ton-class twin-engine rotorcraft to operate in more confined areas while its bearingless design will ease maintenance operations.

This new helicopter manufactured by Airbus also introduces new levels of on-board connectivity to customers and operators through the integration of the wireless Airborne Communication System (wACS), allowing seamless and secure transmission of data generated by the aircraft in real-time, including in-flight.

This new version of H145 has already performed some altitude tests in the French Pyrenees during the summer of 2018. Airbus expects to get EASA certification in early 2020 and quickly start deliveries.