Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first two out of eight H145 helicopters with five-bladed rotors to the Bavarian Police, providing them with the most advanced law enforcement missions available. The H145s will replace the current H135 fleet, which has been in service for over 12 years, and provide the police force with essential tools to carry out diverse missions, such as searching for missing persons, transporting special units, fighting forest fires, or dealing with natural disasters.
The first two helicopters will be used in the training of pilots and crews, ensuring a smooth transition from the current H135 fleet to the larger H145 helicopters. Delivery of the first fully equipped police helicopter is scheduled for the middle of next year.
“We would like to thank Bavaria and its police force for their continued confidence in our helicopters,” said Stefan Thomé, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Germany. “We are proud to equip the Bavarian police with the most advanced helicopters available for law enforcement missions, supporting them in keeping our communities safe.”
The H145s will feature some of the most advanced police equipment available, including a state-of-the-art computer system with tactical police mission software that is easily operated by a foldable flat-screen mission command station for an operator in the cabin and a stowable monitor for the copilot. The crew will be aided by a modern lighting concept and leading-edge camera solutions, offering better situational awareness of the helicopter’s surroundings and events on the ground. The communication will be facilitated due to customer-specific radio and data transfer means. A next-generation hoist and the capability to transport external loads as well as for allowing for firefighting will further enhance police mission capabilities. Additional features, such as illuminated blade tips, improve safety onboard during essential police operations.
Franz Muschick, Head of the Bavarian Police Helicopter Squadron, said, “Our police forces have to deal with a wide range of scenarios, and the H145, with its outstanding performance and mission capabilities, will provide our police forces with an essential tool to fulfill these diverse missions.”
The new version of Airbus’ best-selling H145 light twin-engine helicopter adds a new, innovative five-bladed rotor to the multi-mission aircraft, increasing the useful load of the helicopter by 150kg. The simplicity of the new bearingless main rotor design also eases maintenance operations, further improving the benchmark serviceability and reliability of the H145 while improving ride comfort for both passengers and crew.
In total, there are more than 1,600 H145 family helicopters in service, logging a total of more than seven million flight hours. Powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines, the H145 is equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC) and the Helionix digital avionics suite. It includes a high-performance 4-axis autopilot, increasing safety and reducing pilot workload. Its particularly low acoustic footprint makes the H145 the quietest helicopter in its class, while its CO2 emissions are the lowest amongst its competitors.
More than 200 H145 helicopters are in service around the world in public service and law enforcement missions.
