30 September 2020: Norwegian Air Ambulance recently received their first five-bladed, light twin engine helicopter H145 from Airbus Helicopters. This multi-mission helicopter increases the load by 150 kgs while delivering new levels of comfort, simplicity, and connectivity. It is powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines and equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC) and the Helionix digital avionics suite.
It includes a high performance 4-axis autopilot, increasing safety and reducing pilot workload. It’s particularly low acoustic footprint makes the H145 the quietest helicopter in its class.
“I would like to thank the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation for their trust in our helicopters and especially in the H145 family of helicopters. I can’t wait to see this new version in operation, contributing to the success of life-saving missions,” said Bruno Even, Airbus Helicopters CEO. “Our teams have worked hard to bring this enhanced multi-mission helicopter to the market quickly.”
“We’re proud to be the first operator to use the new five-bladed H145 for our research and development projects,” says Hans Morten Lossius, Secretary General of Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation. “The increased useful load and the smooth flight make the new H145 the perfect choice for these purposes, which aim to further push the boundaries and enhance Helicopter Emergency Medical Services in Norway and in the whole air ambulance community.”
The Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, founded by Norwegian doctor Jens Moe in 1978, is the mother company and owner of the Norwegian Air Ambulance. It brought HEMS to Norway by opening a first base near Oslo, using a BO105 helicopter rented from Germany. Today, Norwegian Air Ambulance operates all 13 HEMS bases in Norway and all 4 bases in Denmark using a 100 per cent Helionix-equipped fleet of H135s and H145s. This helicopter is dedicated to support the Foundations important work to improve the HEMS operations.
After receiving the European Union Aviation Safety Agency certification in June, the Federal Aviation Administration is under review and expected soon. The H145 is developed jointly with Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The first delivery by the Japanese cooperation partner is scheduled for early next year.
