Airbus Helicopters announced a slew of new orders at Helitech 2018 in Amsterdam and confirmed plans to begin assembly of its Racer helicopter next year.
Norway’s Helitrans has acquired four H125 singles for a variety of missions including power line construction, firefighting, sightseeing, photo shoots, and “reindeer herding.” Helitrans operates from eight bases within Norway and already operates 18 Airbus singles. The new helicopters will be delivered in spring 2019.
Separately, the Royal Dutch Touring Club ANWB has signed a contract for up to six HEMS configured H135s with Helionix to be delivered in 2019 and 2020. ANWB Medical Air Assistance is 100 percent owned by the Royal Dutch Touring Club ANWB and is the sole HEMS provider in the Netherlands, performing more than 8,500 missions per year 24/7.
Airbus, updating on the status of its Racer (rapid and cost-efficient rotorcraft) program, said key systems have passed preliminary design review, initial components are being manufactured, and aircraft assembly is planned to begin at the end of next year. Announced suppliers to date include GE units Avio Aero (lateral gearbox housing), GE Integrated Systems, Hamble UK ( wing titanium cradle), INCAS/Romaero (composite side panel), and Aeronova (tail primary structure). Airbus announced that it had selected Safran Aneto-1X engines for the Racer earlier this year.