The opening day of this
year's Heli-Expo saw the unveiling of the first EC 145 to go into
service with a US EMS operator, Lee County. The event takes place
exactly one year after Eurocopter first demonstrated the aircraft
to American customers and prospects at Heli-Expo 2003. With
interest in its latest light twin accelerating, Eurocopter attaches
utmost importance to the stateside market and especially its EMS
operators. A total of five EC 145s have been sold in the US, to
date.
With European service introduction of the EC 145 in April 2002,
Eurocopter has launched a promising new aircraft in the world
market which excels in terms of cabin space and versatility. In
fact, the 50th aircraft will enter service at the end of this
month. With production now in full swing, delivery times have been
reduced significantly. This makes the aircraft even more attractive
to the market where high interest has been expressed for law
enforcement, EMS and oil & gas applications.
Notable operators include
Securite Civile (French Civil Defense and Emergency Preparedness
Organization), Gendarmerie Nationale (French National Police), REGA
Swiss Air Rescue, ADAC Air Rescue, DRF Air Rescue (Deutsche
Rettungsflugwacht) und Hessen Police (Germany), the latter having
equipped the aircraft for Homeland Security and Special Forces
missions. This illustrious group of highly demanding customers have
meanwhile taken the EC 145 through its paces, with missions ranging
from mountain rescue, special forces engagements, EMS and Intensive
Care transport missions, up to a landing on Europe's highest
mountain, Mont Blanc, at 15,770 ft altitude with full operational
configuration, a crew of five, and 40 minutes fuel, at no wind and
a temperature of ISA + 10 C.
In the Asian market, which is served by program partner Kawasaki
Heavy Industries (Japan) and where the helicopter is designated BK
117 C-2, five aircraft have been sold to date.
The IFR-certified EC 145 features a night-vision
goggle-compatible, digital glass cockpit with multi-function
displays, largely reducing pilot's workload and facilitating
day-and-night operations. The aircraft's forward cabin is almost
identical to that of the EC 135, thus continuing Eurocopter's
cockpit design policy offering a maximum of commonality and
man-machine interface as well as providing excellent
visibility.
Compared with the BK 117 C-1, from which it was derived and of
which a very high number is flying in the US, the EC 145's maximum
take-off weight has been increased from 7,385 lbs to 7,904 lbs, and
its payload has grown to approximately 3,902 lbs. Its spacious,
completely unobstructed cabin can be utilized for a broad variety
of configurations, and it is capable of transporting up to ten
persons (one pilot + nine passengers). The cabin length has grown
from 8.40 ft to 9.71 ft, and the width has increased
by 0.59 ft to 5.45 ft at shoulder level. Its large
sliding doors, together with rear loading doors like those on the
BO 105, BK 117, and the EC 135, offer excellent cabin access from
all sides. The cabin has been improved as compared to the C-1
version by removing the center post and the door supports. The EC
145 is also noteworthy for its highly reduced noise level. It is an
average of 6.7 dB beneath the International Civil Aircraft
Organization standards for helicopters in this class.
The aircraft is powered by two Turbomeca ARRIEL 1E2 engines. A
vast number of optional equipment kits is already certified and on
offer to customers for immediate utilization of this multipurpose
helicopter. Production of the BK 117 C-1 has been closed, with the
last three aircraft of this type being delivered by the end of
2004.