The newly ordered five-bladed H145s helicopters are to be operated from the Swiss Air-Rescue Service Rega mountain bases and will replace the current fleet of AW109SP helicopters.
The Swiss Air Rescue Service Rega has ordered a second batch of 12 five-bladed H145 helicopters to be operated from its mountain bases. They will be used to replace the current fleet of AW109SP helicopters. This new order follows an initial contract for nine H145s announced in March of this year. By 2026, Rega will have an all-Airbus fleet of 21 five-bladed H145s.
“To effectively operate life-saving air rescue services in Switzerland, we understand that the ability to perform optimally at altitude is paramount,” says Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “The five-bladed H145 landed on the Aconcagua in Chile, a mountain that is nearly 7,000 meters high – no other twin engine helicopter has ever achieved this feat. That is why we are especially proud that Rega has put its faith in the five-bladed H145 and decided to make it the only helicopter type in its fleet to perform such critical missions,” he further added
The five-bladed H145s will be outfitted with a cutting-edge navigation system that is specifically tailored to the operator’s requirements, enhancing mission capabilities and operational safety. The system will make use of the new capabilities of Garmin’s Flight Management System GTN750 Xi. It will integrate and control a multi-sensor system capable of highly accurate and dependable navigation. Even if the GPS signal is lost, the helicopter will continue to fly safely thanks to Thales’ inertial navigation system. This solution improves the helicopter’s navigation performance in low IFR conditions and allows it to be certified as navigation procedure RNP-AR 0.1, the most accurate navigation procedure in the helicopter environment. In addition, a new Vincorion hoist is being certified on the five-bladed H145, ensuring the highest safety standards.
“By selecting the five-bladed H145, we are ensuring that Rega will continue being able to provide its patients with reliable and professional medical assistance by air for the next 15 years,” says Ernst Kohler, CEO of Rega.
Read more stories… Lufthansa Technik secures VIP cabin overhaul contract for solo Airbus ACJ320neo
The new version of Airbus’ best-selling H145 light twin-engine helicopter adds a new, innovative five-bladed rotor to the multi-mission aircraft, increasing the useful load by 150kg. The new bearingless main rotor design also simplifies maintenance operations, further improving the H145’s benchmark serviceability and reliability while improving ride comfort for both passengers and crew. More than 1,600 H145 family helicopters are in service, with a total flight time of more than seven million hours. The H145 is powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines and features full authority digital engine control (FADEC) and the Helionix digital avionics suite. It includes a high-performance 4-axis autopilot, which increases safety while decreasing pilot workload. The H145 is the quietest helicopter in its class due to its low acoustic footprint, and its CO2 emissions are the lowest among its competitors.
