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| EC145 | |
|---|---|
| Name | EC145 |
| Caption | Bundespolizei HEMS variant in flight |
| Manufacturer | Eurocopter / Airbus Helicopters |
| First flight | 1999 |
| Introduction | 2002 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary user | Bundespolizei, Bristow Helicopters, Royal Canadian Air Force |
EC145 is a twin-engine, medium utility helicopter developed by Eurocopter and later produced by Airbus Helicopters. It was designed to meet requirements set by German Air Force and commercial operators for emergency medical services and offshore transport, combining features from the BK 117 lineage and modern avionics from the EC135. The type has been adopted by civil, parapublic, and military organizations including Paramedic services, Police of Austria, and multiple air ambulance providers across Europe, North America, and Asia.
Development began with a collaboration between MBB and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace leading to the BK 117 program, later consolidated under Eurocopter following mergers involving Aerospatiale and Sikorsky Aircraft. The EC145 incorporates a reinforced fuselage drawn from the MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 and new rotor and transmission systems derived from the EC135 family. Designers integrated Turbomeca Arriel turboshaft engines, composite main rotor blades, and a five-blade fenestron-style tail rotor concept evaluation influenced by studies into anti-torque systems employed on types such as the AS365 Dauphin. Avionics suites were upgraded with systems from Honeywell, Garmin, and Thales Group to meet Instrument Flight Rules standards used by operators like Lufthansa subsidiaries and Airbus Defence and Space customers. Structural improvements enabled a widened cabin used by United States Air Force-style mission equipment fits and interoperability components compatible with NATO logistic chains exemplified by NATO Standardization Office guidelines.
Multiple factory and retrofit variants addressed specialized roles. The basic civil transport variant parallels earlier BK 117 C-2 configurations while the military utility models offered provisions similar to UH-60 Black Hawk mission-fit philosophies. The EC145 T2/T2e introduced uprated Safran or RTM322-sourced engines and a five-blade main rotor akin to upgrades applied in the Eurocopter EC175. Dedicated Airborne Law Enforcement and Search and Rescue packages included sensor turrets from FLIR Systems, hoists from Goodrich Corporation, and internal mission consoles like those produced for Royal Canadian Mounted Police operations. Hospital interior conversions reflected standards used by St John Ambulance and Red Cross air ambulances, with stretchers and life-support racks compatible with Philips Healthcare monitoring equipment.
Commercial entries into service occurred in the early 2000s with operators such as Bristow Helicopters and CHC Helicopter for offshore crew transfer in North Sea operations and support to companies like Shell. Public service operators included Bundespolizei and municipal air ambulance providers across Germany, United Kingdom, and United States. Military uses encompassed troop transport and medevac roles within forces paralleling doctrine from the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. The type saw deployments during humanitarian missions coordinated with United Nations agencies and disaster relief efforts alongside NGOs such as Médecins Sans Frontières.
Roles span emergency medical services, law enforcement, offshore transport, search and rescue, and military utility. Notable civil operators include Christchurch Rescue, Airbus Helicopters UK, and corporate flight departments linked to Siemens and BMW. Governmental and military operators have included the Bundespolizei, Royal Canadian Air Force, and regional police forces in Australia and Japan. Private emergency medical operators often partner with healthcare systems like NHS trusts and county-level services modeled on California Department of Health Care Services air ambulance frameworks.
Typical specifications for an in-service transport configuration: - Crew: 1–2 pilots drawn from corps such as Federal Aviation Administration-licensed pilots and Civil Aviation Authority certificated crews. - Capacity: up to 9 passengers or mission equipment configurations comparable to AgustaWestland AW109 interiors. - Engines: twin Turbomeca Arriel turboshafts with power ratings similar to engines used on Eurocopter AS350 derivatives. - Maximum takeoff weight: roughly in line with medium helicopters like the Bell 412. - Avionics: integrated flight decks using systems from Honeywell and Thales Group compliant with ICAO standards.
The type has been involved in a number of incidents investigated by agencies such as the National Transportation Safety Board and the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation. Accidents have prompted safety reviews coordinated with manufacturers including Airbus Helicopters and regulatory authorities like the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. Lessons learned influenced airworthiness directives and operational guidance similar to reforms implemented after high-profile rotorcraft events involving Sikorsky S-76 and Bell 412 investigations.
Category:Helicopters