Airbus Helicopters (Booth No. 7648) recently received EASA certification for several upgrades for the H175 super-medium twin, including a no-cost maximum takeoff weight increase of 661 pounds, to 17,196 from 16,535 pounds. The upgrade can either provide increased payload or an extra 40 nm radius of action.
Flight of the H175 into limited icing conditions has also been approved by EASA, as was certification for snow operations. Approval for automated rig approaches and a sand filter are pending and expected soon.
Recent certifications for the aircraft have been granted in Russia, Mexico and Australia and certifications are expected soon in the U.S., Malaysia, Canada and Brazil. Oil and gas and VIP configurations of the H175 are now in service, and a public service variant of the aircraft remains under development for delivery later this year to launch customer Hong Kong Government Flying Services. This new variant is suitable for missions including search and rescue, emergency medical services, border security and law enforcement.
Currently 12 H175s are in service on three continents, with heavy use in the offshore energy services industry with NHV in the North Sea and Africa and with Pegaso in the Gulf of Mexico. Since February, the H175 also has been flying offshore in Aberdeen with Babcock Mission Critical Services.