The first Airbus Helicopters H135 Juno for the rotary wing component of the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) has arrived in the UK. The helicopter, G-CJIW, joins the G-CJIWV H145 Jupiter, which was the first UKMFTS helicopter to arrive in Britain.

The H145 Jupiter is currently being operated by a joint military and civilian fielding team in support of the UKMFTS programme and for which the first three pilots have now completed their H145 type ratings.

The first H135 Juno will enter a short programme of modification to meet specific UKMFTS training requirements before being operated by the UKMFTS fielding team.

The aircraft will allow UK armed forces to benefit from conducting initial training on a twin-engine, full glass cockpit aircraft; thus reducing the time needed to retrain once in contact with frontline helicopters. Furthermore, the H135 and H145 family of aircraft, equipped with Airbus Helicopters advanced avionics suite Helionix, provides for a much improved flight and safety envelope.

Airbus Helicopters in the UK was selected in May as the Aircraft Service Provider under a contract worth £500m over 17 years. The contract calls for Airbus Helicopters to deliver 29 H135 and three H145 aircraft and an integrated support solution. Training is scheduled to start in April 2018.