The EC145 T2 evolved version of Eurocopter’s popular twin-engine EC145 – which is making its debut appearance at the annual Helitech helicopter exposition in Duxford – responds to the UK’s demanding emergency services needs.

Eurocopter’s evolutionary approach for this enhanced rotary-wing aircraft retains the EC145’s proven technologies – providing a good useful load, extended range, a flexible cabin design, high reliability and excellent flying characteristics, with innovative features for improved performance – including the company’s Fenestron shrouded tail rotor, upgraded main and tail rotor gear boxes, an innovative new digital avionics suite, a 4-axis autopilot and new Arriel 2E engines.

“The EC145 T2 continues Eurocopter’s success story based on its proven EC145, bringing the ideal solution to efficiently further support UK emergency services in both coastal and on-shore scenarios,” explained Markus Steinke, Managing Director of the Eurocopter UK Ltd. affiliate. “In addition, we have a wide network in place encompassing a full range of services such as maintenance, technical and logistical support as well as training, which guarantees efficient onshore support solutions for any missions in the context of national resilience, such as SAR and fire rescue.”

For its appearance at this week’s Helitech exposition, the EC145 T2 is shown in the emergency medical services (EMS) configuration, demonstrating the helicopter’s suitability for inter-hospital transfer missions. It also is fitted with a winch, underscoring the EC145 T2’s designed-in capability for light search and rescue.

With Eurocopter’s 75 percent share of the UK’s police and emergency medical services markets, the company’s helicopters provide a majority of the UK national resilience rotary-wing aircraft capacity. The existing fleet of 50 EC135s and EC145s perform a wide range of missions – from search, surveillance, crime detection and prevention, to casualty evacuation and air ambulance airlift across the British Isles.

Successful trials utilizing the EC145 have taken place during the past year with the UK Fire & Rescue Service, demonstrating that the application of full-time air support will provide cost effective solutions to improve service delivery in the future. On top of this, Eurocopter’s cost-effective, flexible and reliable product range can perform essential utility operations for national electricity power line and gas line patrol work.

For over three decades, Eurocopter has worked closely with all UK “blue light” services to make their missions more cost-effective and efficient. This strong collaboration has for example ensured that the UK police aviation structure is now one of the best equipped in the world, operating the highest number of flight hours per year in this segment worldwide.

To fully respond to existing and emerging needs for national resilience, Eurocopter in the UK has put a dedicated department in place under the leadership of David Lewis, a recognized leader in this industry and former pilot and police officer with 30 years experience in the law enforcement sector.

Eurocopter press release