Updated Aircraft Will Carry 'e' Designation
A comprehensive evolution of Eurocopter’s helicopter
product line was announced at the Heli-Expo 2011 exposition in
Orlando, Florida, providing enhanced operating capabilities,
improved mission effectiveness and increased efficiency across four
families in the company’s light, medium and heavy rotary-wing
aircraft categories.
These enhanced helicopters result from Eurocopter’s
continuing major investments in innovation, and respond to the
evolving needs of operators worldwide. They involve the AS350,
EC135, AS365/AS565 and AS332 helicopters, and are in addition to
Eurocopter’s introduction of its new EC145 T2 – which
was unveiled yesterday at Heli-Expo 2011.
“At Eurocopter, we are meeting our promise of investing in
the future of helicopter flight, developing this comprehensive
evolution of our product line to offer customers even better
cost-effectiveness, mission capability, ease of operation and
flight safety,” said Eurocopter President & CEO Lutz
Bertling.
The first of Eurocopter’s enhanced helicopters is making
its debut on Eurocopter’s Heli-Expo 2011 exhibit stand: the
single-engine AS350 B3e. This updated version of the best-selling
Ecureuil family has a more powerful Turbomeca Arriel 2D turboshaft
engine, along with a new-generation digital FADEC (Full Authority
Digital Engine Control) and an engine data recorder for condition
monitoring.
As an additional option the aircraft can be operated at its
maximum takeoff engine power rating for 30 minutes. This offers the
opportunity to equip the AS350 B3e with engine filters for a
protection during flight in sand and snow conditions without weight
penalty. It incorporates tail rotor modifications for additional
ease of piloting, and also features an improved interior design.
Certification of the AS350 B3e is planned this summer, with
deliveries to begin before year-end.
Eurocopter’s EC135 T2e and P2e evolved versions of its
popular EC135 twin-engine helicopter have an increased maximum
takeoff weight of up to 6,500 pounds, which offers a 88 pound gain
in payload and allows an extra passenger to be carried with a load
margin extension from its previous weight rating. Certification of
the EC135 T2e/P2e is planned in mid 2011 – with the
improvements to be integrated on all new production EC135s from
mid-year, and offered for retrofit as well on in-service
helicopters.
Enhancements for the AS365 N3e/AS565 MBe versions of
Eurocopter’s medium-weight Dauphin family respond to market
requests for improved hot-and-high performance, along with new
technologies and systems, on this twin-engine helicopter. Primary
changes are the introduction of Arriel 2N engines with dual-channel
FADEC, use of the main gearbox from Eurocopter’s EC155
helicopter, the incorporation of a new Starflex rotor head, and the
application of a reinforced main rotor mast. These upgrades provide
a 15 percent increase in power for better performance, a
significant payload gain, and reductions in maintenance and
operating costs. Certification of the AS365 N3e is anticipated in
the fourth quarter of 2013, with deliveries targeted to begin in
early 2014.
Improvements for the AS332L1e Super Puma are focused on the
integration of Eurocopter’s advanced cockpit and automatic
flight control systems employed on its EC225/EC725 helicopter. This
will offer enhanced flight envelope protection and increased safety
levels, along with full compatibility for such new-generation
mission equipment as forward looking infrared (FLIR) sensors,
helicopter terrain awareness and warning systems (HTAWS), digital
map units, and traffic alert and collision avoidance systems
(TCAS).