Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil
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| Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil | |
|---|---|
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| Name | AS350 Écureuil |
| Manufacturer | Aérospatiale / Eurocopter / Airbus Helicopters |
| First flight | 1974 |
| Introduced | 1977 |
| Primary user | Various civil, law enforcement, and military operators |
| Produced | 1974–present |
Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil is a single-engine light utility helicopter developed in the 1970s by Aérospatiale and produced through corporate successors Eurocopter and Airbus Helicopters, used worldwide for passenger transport, aerial work, law enforcement, and emergency medical services. Designed for high-altitude performance and versatility, it has served in diverse environments from the Alps to the Himalayas and from the Arctic to urban centres, operated by civilian companies, police agencies, and military forces.
Development
The AS350 originated at Aérospatiale during the 1970s in response to requirements from French Air Force, Société Nationale Industrielle Aérospatiale, and international civil customers for a modern light helicopter; initial studies involved collaboration with suppliers including Turbomeca and Snecma. First flown in 1974, the type entered serial production as the Écureuil in 1977 amid competition from designs by Bell Helicopter, Agusta, and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, with development influenced by operational feedback from operators such as Heli-Lynx, British Airways Helicopters, and Airwork. During corporate reorganisations, Aérospatiale merged into Eurocopter in 1992, later rebranding as Airbus Helicopters in 2014, while certification programmes engaged authorities including Direction générale de l'aviation civile (France), Federal Aviation Administration, and European Union Aviation Safety Agency. Export and licence arrangements involved firms and governments such as China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation, Embraer, and procurement offices from Royal Canadian Mounted Police, spurring incremental improvements and sustaining production into the 21st century.
Design
The AS350 features a three-blade main rotor and a two-blade tail rotor with a semi-monocoque fuselage derived from composite and aluminium alloy work developed by contractors such as Messier-Bugatti-Dowty and Snecma Turbomeca Rolls-Royce. Its powerplant options have included turboshaft engines from Turbomeca and later variants integrated powerplants from Safran, enabling operations in environments like Mount Everest, Rocky Mountains, and Andes Mountain Range. Avionics fits have been supplied by Garmin, Thales Group, and Honeywell, supporting IFR-capable configurations used by operators such as Airbus HCare customers, Helicopter Emergency Medical Service providers, and broadcasters like BBC News and CNN. The design emphasises high power-to-weight ratio, adaptability for external loads with a cargo hook from firms like Fokker, and compatibility with mission equipment for law enforcement units such as New York Police Department Aviation Unit and Los Angeles Police Department Air Support Division.
Variants
Production and aftermarket variants include civil and military-konfigurations developed by Aérospatiale, Eurocopter, and Airbus Helicopters, with models adapted by organisations including Helibras and Turkish Aerospace Industries. Notable variants supplied to operators such as Royal Air Force of Oman, French Gendarmerie, and Royal Australian Navy offer differences in engines, cabin layouts, and avionics; specialised conversions for air ambulance roles have been completed by firms like Drägerwerk and Securaplane Technologies. Military derivatives and armed patrol modifications have been undertaken for clients including Argentine Navy, Philippine Air Force, and South African Air Force, while high-altitude certified versions have been used by Nepalese Army Air Service and commercial operators servicing Mount Kilimanjaro and Denali National Park.
Operational history
The AS350 has accumulated service with aerial firefighting contractors such as Sundance Helicopters and Bristow Helicopters, media organisations like Sky News, and tourism operators flying to destinations like Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls. Law enforcement adoption occurred across municipal and national agencies including Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Metropolitan Police Service, and Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department; SAR and HEMS tasks were performed in harsh environments by units like Swiss Air-Rescue (REGA), Air Zermatt, and Icelandic Coast Guard. Commercial success led to long-term contracts with oil and gas companies operating in regions served by PetroChina and BP, as well as utility firms conducting powerline and pipeline inspections for corporations like Siemens and ExxonMobil. The platform has been demonstrated in aerial display roles at airshows such as Paris Air Show, Farnborough Airshow, and Dubai Airshow.
Operators
Civilian operators include major helicopter operators and airlines such as Airbus Helicopters, Helicopter Transportation Services, CHC Helicopter, Heli-One, and PHI, Inc., while governmental users range from police and paramilitary units like Polizia di Stato, Garde Républicaine (France), and Zambian Air Force to mountaineering support units for national parks administered by National Park Service (United States). Charters and sightseeing companies operating in tourism hubs such as Queenstown, New Zealand, Interlaken, and Banff National Park rely on AS350 fleets, while maintenance, repair and overhaul activities are supported by MRO centres including Lufthansa Technik, Delta TechOps, and ST Aerospace.
Specifications
Typical single-engine AS350 specifications vary by model; a representative configuration includes a three-blade main rotor, crew of one or two pilots, seating for five to six passengers used by operators like Virgin Atlantic affiliate contractors, cruise speeds comparable to competitors from Bell Textron and AgustaWestland, useful load and range tailored for missions such as HEMS for agencies like London Ambulance Service, and avionics suites from Rockwell Collins and Garmin Ltd.. Performance enables high-altitude operations certified for regions including Himalayas and Alps, while external load capacity supports utility contractors working for companies like Hydro-Québec.
Accidents and incidents
The type has been involved in accidents and incidents worldwide investigated by bodies including Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la Sécurité de l'Aviation Civile, National Transportation Safety Board, and Transportation Safety Board of Canada, with causes ranging from pilot error and maintenance issues to weather-related events affecting flights near Mount Blanc, Mount Erebus, and coastal areas like English Channel. High-profile recoveries and investigations involved operators such as Heli-Air Monaco and companies cited in regulatory actions by European Union Aviation Safety Agency, leading to airworthiness directives and operational recommendations adopted by national authorities like Transport Canada.
Category:Helicopters