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| Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma Mk-2 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma Mk-2 |
| Type | Transport/utility helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Eurocopter |
| First flight | 27 November 2000 |
| Introduction | 2004 |
| Primary user | Various civil and military operators |
| Produced | 2000s–2010s |
Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma Mk-2 The Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma Mk-2 is a long-range, twin-engined, heavy-lift helicopter developed for Offshore oil and gas support, Search and rescue, and VIP transport roles. Designed by Aerospatiale and further developed under Eurocopter during the early 2000s, the type bridges the lineage between the Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma and the Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma, incorporating systems proven in NHIndustries NH90 and Sikorsky S-92 programs.
The EC225 emerged from a joint evolution program involving Aérospatiale-Matra, Messier-Dowty, Safran, and Airbus Helicopters suppliers to meet requirements set by major energy companies such as BP, Shell plc, ExxonMobil, and Chevron Corporation. Drawing on rotorcraft research at Cranfield University and certification standards from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration, designers incorporated a five-blade bearingless main rotor, composite materials developed with Hexcel Corporation and Toray Industries, and a full glass cockpit influenced by avionics from Honeywell International, Thales Group, and Garmin Ltd.. Powerplants are twin Turbomeca Makila 2A1 turboshaft engines, coupled via a common gearbox architecture refined alongside programs including the AgustaWestland AW101 and Bell 525 Relentless. Systems for in-flight de-icing, automatic flight control inspired by Boeing fly-by-wire experiences, and crashworthy cabin structures influenced by studies at the National Transportation Safety Board and European Aviation Safety Agency mandated robust certification testing. European and international certification trials involved agencies such as the Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom), Transport Canada, and the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
The EC225 entered service with offshore operators servicing platforms in basins controlled by Norway, United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, and Gabon. Major operators included CHC Helicopter, Bristow Group, Heli-One, Babcock International, and Babcock Scandinavian AirAmbulance for Search and rescue missions. The type saw operational deployment supporting projects run by firms like TotalEnergies, Statoil (now Equinor), and Petrobras and participated in humanitarian missions coordinated with organizations such as United Nations agencies and Médecins Sans Frontières. High-profile incidents prompted reviews by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la sécurité de l'aviation civile, and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, leading to fleet groundings and retrofits administered through maintenance networks including Lufthansa Technik and StandardAero. Upgrades and operational lessons influenced later rotorcraft procurements by the Royal Air Force, Royal Norwegian Air Force, and civilian fleets operating under regulations set by EASA and FAA.
Multiple derivatives and mission-fit variants were produced or proposed, including dedicated offshore passenger transport configured for contracts with BP, Shell, and Eni S.p.A.; search-and-rescue conversions specified for HM Coastguard and the Royal Canadian Air Force; and VIP transport interiors commissioned by governments of Malaysia, Brunei, and Thailand. Specialized mission equipment packages were supplied by firms such as Leonardo S.p.A., Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation subcontractors, and UTC Aerospace Systems for roles in Offshore oil and gas, Search and rescue, and Medical evacuation operations. Proposed military adaptations paralleled efforts seen in the CH-148 Cyclone and NHIndustries NH90 programs for troop transport and special forces support.
Civilian operators included CHC Helicopter, Bristow Group, Babcock International, PHI, Inc., HeliTrans, and national offshore contractors working for Equinor, Petrobras, TotalEnergies, and Woodside Petroleum. Government and military users comprised emergency services such as HM Coastguard, the Royal Norwegian Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force (through civilian contractors), and state VIP fleets in Malaysia and Thailand. Maintenance, repair and overhaul networks were operated by Lufthansa Technik, Heli-One, and StandardAero to support operational readiness across North Sea and Gulf of Mexico theaters.
- Crew: 2 (pilot, co-pilot) — typically with cabin attendants supplied by operators such as CHC Helicopter and Bristow Group. - Capacity: up to 24 passengers in standard offshore layout used by BP, Shell, and ExxonMobil. - Length: approx. 19.5 m — comparable to types like the Sikorsky S-92. - Main rotor diameter: approx. 16.2 m — influenced by rotor designs tested at Cranfield University and ONERA. - Height: approx. 5.5 m. - Max takeoff weight: ~11,200 kg — in service limits set by EASA and FAA. - Powerplant: 2 × Turbomeca Makila 2A1 turboshaft engines — part of family used across Eurocopter types and related to powerplants in the AS332 Super Puma. - Maximum cruise speed: ~260 km/h — mission performance benchmarked against Sikorsky S-92 and AgustaWestland AW101. - Range: ~857 km — operational radius used for North Sea and Gulf of Mexico operations. - Avionics: integrated glass cockpit from suppliers including Honeywell International and Thales Group, compliant with ICAO standards.
Category:Helicopters