Airbus Helicopters has received EASA certification for a 10 percent power upgrade for the Safran Arriel 2D engine in its H125 single. While the helicopter’s maximum takeoff weight remains unchanged, the extra power will increase internal and external load capability by up to 309 pounds and the hover ceiling out of ground effect at mtow by more than 1,500 feet, to 12,600 feet.
This extra power is standard on all new H125s beginning this September and immediately available as an upgrade to in-service helicopters within the EASA region, with additional certifications expected later this year. The retrofit consists of a vehicle and engine monitoring display software upgrade, available from Thales in-shop or via standard exchange. “The extra power offered by this major upgrade represents a 10 percent to 20 percent payload increase for a typical aerial work mission versus the aircraft’s current lifting capabilities,” said Axel Aloccio, head of light helicopter programs for Airbus.
More than 4,000 H125 AStar series helicopters are in service with 1,500 customers and have accumulated 28.5 million flight hours. In the last 10 years, 1,420 H125s have been delivered, giving the model a 52 percent market share in the single-engine light utility helicopter category.