After a difficult 2016, Airbus Helicopters is off to a good start in 2017. The company reported orders for about 60 helicopters including the H125, H135, H145, and H175, at Heli-Expo 2017 in Dallas, Texas.

Milestone Aviation Group Limited announced a €200m firm order for H135, H145 and H175 helicopters, while Waypoint Leasing (Ireland) Limited committed to ordering an additional 16 Airbus helicopters including the H135, H145 and adding the H175 to its order book for the first time.

At Heli-Expo this year, Airbus Helicopters introduced the H135 equipped with the Helionix digital avionics suite. STAT MedEvac will soon be the first air medical transport service in North America to operate this type, following an order for three new H135s announced at the show. The Helionix-equipped H135 will soon be leaving Dallas for a demo tour of the U.S. and Mexico.

REACH Air Medical Services, a subsidiary of Air Medical Group Holdings, placed an order for five new Airbus H125s. Also, Ruo’er General Aviation Development Group (Ruo’er Group) of China signed a letter of intent for a total of 12 H125s with a first confirmed order of four aircraft.

Airbus Helicopters announced at the show that a recent independent survey has confirmed a significant reduction in direct maintenance and direct operating costs (DMC and DOC) for the H125, H130 and H135.