Airbus Helicopters has introduced its H140 at the vertical lift industry show Verticon in Dallas, Texas.
The multi-mission helicopter raises the bar in the light twin-engined category, says Airbus, for performance, cost-effectiveness, and passenger and crew comfort.
The H140 is a 3-tonne class rotorcraft that complements Airbus Helicopters’ current light twin offering for the emergency medical services, passenger transport, and private and business aviation markets. The entry into service of the helicopter is planned in 2028 for the emergency medical services segment.
“Introducing a new helicopter to the light twin engine segment is a testimony to our commitment to meeting our customers’ evolving mission requirements, leveraging our R&T programmes such as Bluecopter,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters.
“We worked hand in hand with our H135 customers to bring their additional requirements together in the H140’s efficient design. It enables customers to benefit from a bigger mission-enhancing cabin space that was sized to an optimised engine performance for the best-in-class payload and range. We are proud to be able to offer our customers the most competitive choices,” he added.
Airbus Helicopters presented a full-scale model in an emergency medical services configuration at Verticon.
UPDATE: Airbus Helicopters has announced a flurry of orders for the H140. They include:
- Metro Aviation, an air medical operator based in Shreveport, Louisiana, has ordered 12 H140 helicopters, with options for 24 additional helicopters.
- Air Methods, a leading air medical provider in the U.S. and the largest operator of Airbus helicopters in the world, will expand its fleet with H140s, as well as 10 H125s and 11 H135s.
- ADAC Luftrettung, ÖAMTC Flugrettung and Airbus Helicopters have signed an agreement for the purchase of ten H140 helicopters, of which each operator will receive five.
- Global Medical Response has signed an agreement for up to 15 H140 helicopters in the emergency medical services (EMS) sector.
Airbus Helicopters H140 features
- New T-shaped tail boom with an optimised Fenestron that reduces sound levels
- Five-blade bearingless main rotor
- New powerful engines
- Larger cabin space
- Large windows
- Optimised cabin layout that can accommodate up to six passengers comfortably.
Large clamshell doors and the high tail boom help the H140’s rear loading capabilities to allow the use of different types of stretcher systems including intensive care ones and transport incubators while its large sliding doors facilitate access to the cabin.
The H140, powered by the Safran Arrius 2E 700 shp engine, offers the best payload/range in its class.
The two engines of the helicopter are managed by a dual-channel full-authority digital engine control (FADEC) system, guaranteeing unprecedented levels of performance in all engines operative (AEO) operations and considerable power reserves in one engine inoperative (OEI) scenarios.
The new H140 also features the same five-bladed rotor system that was introduced on the H145 in 2019.
The bearingless main rotor design simplifies maintenance, improves serviceability and reliability, and provides the highest level of passenger and crew comfort.
H140 operators will benefit from an optimised maintenance plan that harmonises airframe and engine maintenance schedules and allows longer intervals between inspections, reducing the helicopter’s operating and maintenance costs.
In total, the company will have four dedicated prototypes, with the first aircraft already being flight tested at the company’s site in Donauwörth.
The H140 will feature Helionix, Airbus Helicopters’ avionics that also equips the H135, H145, H160 and H175. Helionix, in addition to the 4-axis autopilot, offers an innovative cockpit layout to enhance situational awareness, reducing the pilot workload and increasing the safety during the mission.