Airbus Delivers First 'Public Service' H175s

Hong Kong’s Government Flying Service (GFS) has taken delivery of three H175s in public-service configuration, becoming the world’s first operator of the new variant capable of search and rescue (SAR), emergency medical services, law enforcement, firefighting, and land and maritime border control operations. In 2015, GFS became the launch customer of the H175 public services configuration with an order for seven helicopters. The four remaining helicopters will be delivered by year-end.

GFS’s new H175s will progressively replace its current fleet of AS332 L2s and H155s, which currently provide 24-hour emergency support services from their base at Chek Lap Kok Airport. The H175 public-service configuration has more than 20 possible cabin configurations and can be reconfigured based on mission requirements.

In fact, the aircraft can be kitted with 70 different types of optional equipment including electro-optical observation and tracking, digital map display, dual hoist, search light, infrared camera, and radioactivity detector. The H175’s standard Helionix avionics suite features advanced SAR modes which enables the super-medium twin to hover automatically above moving vessels.

To date, Airbus Helicopters has delivered 23 of the aircraft.