The Airbus Helicopters EC135 / H135 is a lightweight five/seven seat twin-turbine-engine multi-role helicopter with a radius of 720 km.
The EC135 is offered with either Safran Helicopter Engines (former: Turbomeca) Arrius 2B2 or Pratt & Whitney PW206B2 engines.
Development of the Eurocopter EC135 started in the 80s as the MBB Bo.108 Advanced Technology Helicopter. The prototype BO108 with
conventional tail rotor flew first on 15 October 1988. When the helicopter divisions of MBB from Germany and Aérospatiale from
France merged in January 1992 to form the Eurocopter Group, the Bo108 program was transferred as well. An advanced low noise ducted
10-blade Fenestron tail rotor was, next to other modifications, incorporated into the design and the name of the helicopter was
changed into Eurocopter EC135. The prototype of the EC135 (D-HBOX s/n S-01) flew first on 15 February 1994 and went in series
production in 1996 at Donauwörth. On 14 June 1996, the German certification was granted by the LBA and the first customer delivery
followed on 31 July that year. Next to the EC135 a special military version was developed designated the Eurocopter EC635. The
EC635 has a structural reinforcement of cabin structure and can be equipped with wire-guided, laser-guided, autonomous missiles. Over
1300 EC135 / H135 / H135M airframes have been delivered since the helicopter entered service in 1996. In March 2015, Airbus Helicopters
renamed its entire product line to better reflect its closer allignment with ist parent company and simplify the naming convention for
the portfolio. Therefore, the EC135 T3/P3 were renamed as “H135” as stated in revison No.EASA.R.009 Issue: 07 of the Type Certificate
Data Sheet for EC135 dated 18 March 2015. “H135M” is used as marketing designation for the military EC635 P3(CPDS); EC635 P3H; EC635 T3(CPDS)
and EC635 T3H helicopters. The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for the EC135 / H135 helicopters is EC35.
As a result of the merger between the Eurocopter parents Aérospatiale-Matra; DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (DASA)
and Construcciones Aeronàuticas Sociedad Anonima (CASA) in July 2000, the Eurocopter group became a division of the new formed
EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space company). Taking off into 2014, EADS was rebranded as "Airbus Group". Uniting
all its activities under a single brand, its helicopter division Eurocopter was rebranded as Airbus Helicopters on 8 January 2014.
On 21 April 2006, Eurocopter EC135 P2 D-HHIT was photographed at the helipad of the helistation of "Lifeliner 2"
at Rotterdam Airport in the Netherlands. The ADAC EC135P2 D-HHIT replaced at that time the MMT EC135 T2 as "Lifeliner 2".
MMT (Mobil Medical Team) "Lifeliner 2" is based at Rotterdam Airport and uses also the helideck
of the Erasmus MC in Rotterdam. The 2005-built Eurocopter EC-135 P2 D-HHIT was registered on 18 January 2005
and delivered to the ADAC Luftrettung GmbH in Germany. The D-HHIT is used to operate as "Christoph
Europe 1" stationed at Aachen-Merzbrück Airfield in Germany. Callsign "Christoph" is used
for the German lifeliner helicopters since 1970 and is derived of Saint Christophorus, the Patron Saint for all
travellers. The four EMS / Lifeliner helicopters in the Netherlands are: "Lifeliner 1" with medical support from VUmc in Amsterdam;
"Lifeliner 2" with medical support from ErasmusMC in Rotterdam; "Lifeliner 3" with medical support from Radboudumc in
Nijmegen and "Lifeliner Europe 4" with medical support from UMC Groningen. ANWB Medical Air
Assistance operates, next to the four lifeliner helicopters, one EC135 T2+ and one H135 (EC135 P3H) helicopter for crew training and
as a spare aircraft for maintenance cover of the lifeliners. In the past, when needed for maintenance, ADAC Luftrettung
gave the MMT back-up service with EC135 P2 D-HHIT and/or D-HHTS. Next to the Lifeliner helicopters,
ANWB Medical Air Assistance operates two Airbus Helicopters H145 T2 (MBB-BK 117 D-2) helicopters from Leeuwarden AFB, commissioned by RAV Fryslân.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
