A SINGLE H135 helicopter was delivered to the Heath Commission of Qingdao in China’s Shandong Province, Airbus Helicopters announced on September 28, 2018.
The H135 was delivered in helicopter emergency medical service coniguration for EMS missions in Qingdao and the surrounding area. It is also the first H135 to be delivered in China with Airbus Helicopters’ Helionix avionics suite.
The delivery was also signiicant as the first of 100 H135 helicopters which will be delivered to China under a framework agreement signed in June 2016.
During the ceremony, Airbus Helicopters’ distributor in China, United General Aviation Industrial Development (UGA) signed a contract with Eastern General Aviation Company for two H135s. UGA has previously signed a framework agreement with Qingdao Huatong Financial Leasing for six H135 helicopters. All are part of the 100-helicopter agreement between Airbus Helicopters and UGA.
The first five helicopters out of the 100 covered by the agreement will be built by Airbus Helicopters at Dönauworth and the remainder will be assembled on the H135 assembly line in Qingdao, which began construction in 2017 and is due to be commissioned in 2019.
Airbus Helicopters’ CEO, Bruno Even, said: “This delivery represents the first on many milestones supporting our commitment to serve the Chinese market with H135s made in Qingdao.”
In other H135 news, Airbus Corporate Helicopters announced on September 28, 2018, that it has delivered the first VIP-conigured ACH135 Helionix to UK operator HeliGroup.
The handover ceremony was conducted at the Monaco Yacht Club during the Principality’s annual yacht show.
The helicopter will be used by HeliGroup for VIP charter operations in a five-seat coniguration and will be operated alongside the company’s existing AS355NP Twin Squirrel, which is conigured for both passenger transport and utility operations. Managing Director of HeliGroup, Matthew Munson, said: “We are delighted to be the first to introduce the advanced flight and safety benefits of the ACH135 Helionix to the VIP charter market, with the UK again leading the way in aviation.”
He added: “Our customers will benefit from the latest generation build standards and quality, complemented with a luxury interior, making the ACH135 an ideal platform for a range of requirements,”
