Metro Aviation Aims for June H160 Interior STC Approval

Metro Aviation expects to receive an FAA supplemental type certificate in June for an air medical  interior in the Airbus Helicopters H160. According to the Shreveport, Louisiana-based company, the H160 platform allows air medical providers to serve broader geographic areas and transport critically ill patients, including cases requiring specialized care, across greater distances.

Memorial Hermann’s H160 on display at the recent Verticon show is being used as the conforming aircraft for the STC program. Metro Aviation is completing a second H160 for another customer with a similar configuration.

The interior includes onboard systems such as liquid oxygen and medical inverters built into the aircraft. Metro Aviation is considering a more flexible configuration that would allow the use of portable medical equipment to accommodate international operators who do not use integrated onboard systems.

“Metro Aviation recognizes that while integrated onboard systems are standard in many U.S. programs, numerous international operators rely on ‘carry-on’ medical equipment to support their clinical missions,” the company said. After receiving STC approval, Metro Aviation plans to create an installation kit allowing other certified completion centers and operators to add the Metro-designed interior to H160s.