Airbus Helicopters is delivering three more five-blade H145 light twins to air ambulance provider SAF Group, adding to the three already ordered by the company between 2018 and 2020. The new helicopters will be based in France in Grenoble, Valence, and Montpellier. SAF operates in France and Belgium and already flies a mixed fleet of 55 Airbus helicopters including a Super Puma, H135s, and H125s. SAF recently deployed its first H145, based in Belgium.
“We are happy that the five-blade H145 is gaining momentum in France and playing a key role in the modernization of the EMS fleet in the country,” said Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even, who noted that the helicopter OEM and SAF have had a commercial relationship for more than two decades.
More than 1,470 helicopters in the H145 family are in service worldwide with over 470 of those engaged in air rescue and air ambulance missions. The fleet has accumulated more than six million flight hours. The latest derivative, with a five-blade bearingless main rotor system, was announced in 2019. This new rotor system helps increase the H145’s useful load by 330 pounds.