Story ID: 
Airbus Helicopters Unveils Upgraded H135 Light Twin
By: Thierry Dubois
Caption: Norwegian EMS operators orders three new H135s, expects delivery in 2017.
Word Count: 185
Airbus Helicopters on Wednesday at Helitech unveiled further improvements to the H135 light twin—an avionics upgrade with the Helionix suite, the addition of a four-axis autopilot and extra cabin space—and announced Norwegian EMS operator Norsk Luftambulanse placed an order for three.

The Airbus-developed Helionix suite will reduce pilot workload, Axel Humpert, head of the H135 program, told AIN. It will be same as the H145 suite. Under the “blue line” concept, the crew will know whether it is on the safe side in case an engine fails thanks to a very straightforward graphic, Humpert explained. Other variants of Helionix can be found on the H175 and the in-development H160.

The new autopilot will help EMS pilots concentrate on their environment, thanks to a “hover hold” function. Finally, an electronics bay has been moved up and forward, thus freeing a few cubic feet in the aft cabin. Humpert explained the additional space will help medical personnel move around a patient on his stretcher.

Certification is planned for late 2016. Deliveries to Norsk Luftambulanse are to begin in 2017.