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Eurocopter EC 135

 
Eurocopter EC 135

 
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Eurocopter EC 135
 
 
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The EC 135 is a twin-engine civil helicopter produced by Eurocopter, widely used amongst police
Police

Police are agents or agencies, usually of the executive , empowered to enforce the law and to ensure public and social order through the legitimized use of force....
 and ambulance
Ambulance

file:Ambulancebroomfieldhospital.jpgfile:C12 air ambulance.jpgfile:Scilly Isles Ambulance Service alongside Tresco quay.jpgAn ambulance is a vehicle for transporting sick or injured people, to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury....
 services, and for executive transport. It is capable of flight under instrument flight rules
Instrument flight rules

Instrument flight rules are a set of regulations and procedures for flying aircraft whereby navigation and obstacle clearance is maintained with reference to aircraft instruments only, while separation from other aircraft is provided by Air Traffic Control....
 (IFR).

EC135 can trace its history back to before the formation of Eurocopter. It was started as the BO 108 by MBB of Germany
Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands....
 in the mid-eighties. A technology demonstrator ('V1') flew for the first time on 17 October 1988, powered by two Allison
Allison Engine Company

The Allison Engine Company was a U.S. aircraft engine manufacturer which was acquired by Rolls-Royce plc in 1995 to become a subsidiary, Rolls-Royce Corporation....
 250-C20R
Rolls-Royce Model 250

The Allison Model 250 is a highly successful turboshaft engine family, originally developed by the Allison Engine Company in the early 1960s. The Model 250 has been produced by Rolls-Royce since it acquired Allison in 1995....
/1 engines.






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The EC 135 is a twin-engine civil helicopter produced by Eurocopter, widely used amongst police
Police

Police are agents or agencies, usually of the executive , empowered to enforce the law and to ensure public and social order through the legitimized use of force....
 and ambulance
Ambulance

file:Ambulancebroomfieldhospital.jpgfile:C12 air ambulance.jpgfile:Scilly Isles Ambulance Service alongside Tresco quay.jpgAn ambulance is a vehicle for transporting sick or injured people, to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury....
 services, and for executive transport. It is capable of flight under instrument flight rules
Instrument flight rules

Instrument flight rules are a set of regulations and procedures for flying aircraft whereby navigation and obstacle clearance is maintained with reference to aircraft instruments only, while separation from other aircraft is provided by Air Traffic Control....
 (IFR).

Development

The EC135 can trace its history back to before the formation of Eurocopter. It was started as the BO 108 by MBB of Germany
Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands....
 in the mid-eighties. A technology demonstrator ('V1') flew for the first time on 17 October 1988, powered by two Allison
Allison Engine Company

The Allison Engine Company was a U.S. aircraft engine manufacturer which was acquired by Rolls-Royce plc in 1995 to become a subsidiary, Rolls-Royce Corporation....
 250-C20R
Rolls-Royce Model 250

The Allison Model 250 is a highly successful turboshaft engine family, originally developed by the Allison Engine Company in the early 1960s. The Model 250 has been produced by Rolls-Royce since it acquired Allison in 1995....
/1 engines. A second BO 108 ('V2') followed on 5 June 1991, this time with two Turboméca
Turbomeca

Turbomeca is a France manufacturer of low- and medium-power gas turbine turboshaft engines for helicopters. The company also produces gas turbine engines for aircraft and missiles, as well as turbines for land, industrial and marine applications....
 TM319-1B Arrius engines. Both these machines had a conventional tail rotor.

In late 1992, the design was revised with the introduction of the Fenestron
Fenestron

A Fenestron is a fully enclosed tail rotor of a helicopter that is essentially a ducted fan. The housing is integral with the tail skin, and, like the conventional tail rotor it replaces, is intended to counteract the torque of the main rotor....
 tail rotor system, reflecting the creation of Eurocopter that year through the merger of MBB and Aérospatiale. In contrast to other helicopters, the tail rotor blades have been integrated into the tailboom and as they are framed by the tailboom, the risk of an accident has been significantly reduced. This tail rotor system, combined with the fuselage's roomy dimensions, means that the EC135 aircraft has become popular with aeromedical helicopter operators. The EC135 is the best selling light twin of the the past 10 years.

Two pre-production prototypes were built. They flew on 15 February and 16 April 1994, testing the Arrius 2B and Pratt & Whitney Canada
Pratt & Whitney Canada

Pratt & Whitney Canada is a Canadian aircraft engine manufacturer. PWC's headquarters are in Longueuil, Quebec, just outside Montreal, Quebec. It is a division of the larger US-based Pratt & Whitney , itself a business unit of United Technologies....
 PW206B engines, the older and less powerful Allison Model 250 powerplant having been rejected. A third helicopter followed on 28 November 1994.

Operational history

Eurocopter Ec 135 Bundeswehr
The EC135 made its US debut at the Heli-Expo in January 1995 at Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada, the seat of Clark County, Nevada, and an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and entertainment....
. After over 1,600 flight hours, European JAA
Joint Aviation Authorities

The Joint Aviation Authorities, or JAA, is an associated body of the European Civil Aviation Conference representing the civil aviation regulatory authorities of a number of Europe States who have agreed to co-operate in developing and implementing common safety regulatory standards and procedures....
 certification was achieved on 16 June 1996, with FAA approval following on 31 July. Deliveries started on 1 August, when two helicopters (0005 and 0006) were handed over to Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht. The 100th EC135 was handed over to the Bavarian police force in June 1999. By that time the worldwide fleet had clocked up around 30,000 flight hours. As of 2008, the fleet total stood at over 1 million flight hours, with over 650 aircraft delivered.

Single-pilot IFR (SPIFR) certification was granted by the German LBA on December 2, 1999. Deliveries to the German Aviators Corps began on 13 September 2000 at the German Army Aviators School
German Army Aviators School

The German Army Aviators School based at B?ckeburg, is one of the schools of the German Army and is responsible for the training and development of the German Army Aviators Corps' personnel and equipment....
 at (Bückeburg Air Base
Bückeburg Air Base

B?ckeburg Air Base is located Northeast of the city of B?ckeburg, Lower Saxony, Germany.The air base was built in 1946 as RAF B?ckeburg serving the headquarters of the Royal Air Force Germany in Bad Eilsen....
) near Achum. The EC135 received SPIFR certification from the UK CAA
United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority

The Civil Aviation Authority is the Civil Aviation Authority in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1972 following the recommendations of a government committee chaired by Sir Ronald Edwards....
 in December 2000.

In autumn 2000, Eurocopter announced the start of certification work for the Pratt & Whitney Canada
Pratt & Whitney Canada

Pratt & Whitney Canada is a Canadian aircraft engine manufacturer. PWC's headquarters are in Longueuil, Quebec, just outside Montreal, Quebec. It is a division of the larger US-based Pratt & Whitney , itself a business unit of United Technologies....
 PW206B2, a version of the PW207 which offers improved single-engine performance and 30 second emergency power. The LBA
Luftfahrt-Bundesamt

Luftfahrt-Bundesamt is the Germany National Aviation Authority , a government agency with its headquarters in Braunschweig , reporting to the Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Housing....
 certification was achieved on 10 July 2001, and the first EC135 with the new engines was handed over to the Swedish National Police on 10 August 2001.

The world fleet leader in aircraft hours for this type is G-NESV (s/n 0067). This aircraft was delivered to the North East Air Support Unit
North East Air Support Unit

The North East Air Support Unit is the main aerial support for police forces in North East England....
 in April 1999 and on 29 March 2007 it clocked up its 9,000th hour.

At the NBAA in March 2007 in Atlanta, Eurocopter unveiled ‘L’Hélicoptère par Hermès, a special-edition VIP model designed by Hermès International, S.A.
Hermes

Hermes is the messenger of the gods in Greek mythology. An Twelve Olympians, he is also the patron of boundaries and of the travelers who cross them, of shepherds and cowherds, of thieves and road travelers, of orators and wit, of literature and poets, of athletics, of weights and measures, of invention, of general commerce, and of the cunni...
. This variant features a specially-created luxury four-place main cabin, a sliding glass partition, a corporate baggage hold, redesigned skid landing gear and other external changes. Launch customer for ‘L’Hélicoptère par Hermès is Falcon Aviation Services
Falcon Aviation Services

Falcon Aviation Services is an airline based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It operates business jet and helicopter charter services, as well as search and rescue operations for the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces ....
 (FAS), based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Offshore Wind Support
In March 2009 the EC 135 was the first aircraft selected for offshore wind support in the UK after the UK Civil Aviation Authority approved helicopter operations to the Greater Gabbard
Greater Gabbard

Greater Gabbard is a wind farm due to be built 23 Km off the coast of Suffolk in England. It will be located around two sandbanks known as the Inner Gabbard and The Galloper....
 offshore wind farm. The EC 135 had already been used for some time in Denmark, supporting the Horns Rev offshore wind farm where over 10,000 successful personnel transfers have taken place.

Variants

EC135 P1 :Powered by two 463 kW (621 shp) Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B. Later versions have the Center Panel Display System (CPDS). Initial maximum take-off weight (M.T.O.W.) of 2,631 kg (5,800 lbs), later raised to 2,721 kg (6,000 lbs) and then 2,835 kg (6,250 lbs). EC135 T1 :Powered by two 435 kW (583 shp) Turbomeca Arrius 2B1/2B1A/2B1A1. Later versions have the CPDS. Initial M.T.O.W. of 2,631 kg (5,800 lbs), later raised to 2,721 kg (6,000 lbs) and then 2,835 kg (6,250 lbs). EC135 P2 :Powered by two 463 kW (621 shp) Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B2. Increased thermodynamic and mechanic OEI ratings (128% OEI torque). Replaced EC135 P1 in production in August 2001. EC135 T2 :Powered by two 452 kW (652 shp) Turbomeca Arrius 2B2. Increased thermodynamic and mechanic OEI ratings (128% OEI torque). Replaced EC135 T1 in production in August 2002. EC135 P2+ :Latest production version with 498 kW (667 shp) PW206B2 (new power ratings based on a FADEC
FADEC

A FADEC is a system consisting of a digital computer, called an "electronic engine control" or "electronic control unit" , and its related accessories that control all aspects of aircraft engine performance....
 software upgrade), plus a 2,910 kg (6,415 lbs) M.T.O.W. upgrade, extended component time between overhaul
Time between overhaul

One important measure of an aircraft engine's overall economics is how often it has to be overhauled, the so-called time between overhaul, typically seen as TBO or TBOH....
 (TBOs), and a change in the main transmission lubricating oil.. Built in Germany and Spain. EC135 T2+ :Latest production version with 473 kW (634 shp) Arrius 2B2 engines (new power ratings based on a FADEC software upgrade), plus a 2,910 kg (6,415 lbs) M.T.O.W. upgrade, extended component TBOs, and a change in the main transmission lubricating oil. Built in Germany and Spain. EC135 P2i :Marketing designation of aircraft upgraded to (rather than built to) EC135 P2+ standard. EC135 T2i :Marketing designation of aircraft upgraded to (rather than built to) EC135 T2+ standard. EC 635
Eurocopter EC 635

The Eurocopter EC 635 is a light multi-purpose helicopter developed by Eurocopter as a military version of the Eurocopter EC 135. It is a twin-engined aircraft and can carry up to 8 people, including the pilot, and a range of military equipment or armaments....
 :Military variant operated by Jordan.

Operators


Notable accidents and incidents

  • An LifeNet EC135 P2 operated by Air Methods Corporation
    Air Methods

    Air Methods, Corp. is the largest publicly owned emergency medical services helicopter operator in the United States, with a fleet of 300 air ambulance that average 85,000 transports and 100,000 flight hours per year as of December 2006....
     crashed on 10 January 2005 after delivering a patient in Washington, D.C.
    Washington, D.C.

    Washington, D.C. , formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D.C., is the Capital of the United States, founded on July 16, 1790....
    , killing the pilot and a paramedic whilst seriously injuring a nurse. The wreckage of the helicopter was recovered from the Potomac River
    Potomac River

    The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic Ocean coast of the United States. The river is approximately 383 statute miles long, with a Drainage basin of about 14,700 square miles ....
    . The National Transportation Safety Board
    National Transportation Safety Board

    The National Transportation Safety Board is an Independent agencies of the United States government responsible for civil transportation accident investigation....
     (NTSB) concluded a probable cause of controlled flight into terrain
    Controlled flight into terrain

    Controlled flight into terrain describes a collision whereby an airworthy aircraft, under Aviator control, inadvertently flies into terrain, an obstacle, or water....
     (CFIT)


  • An Air Methods Corporation
    Air Methods

    Air Methods, Corp. is the largest publicly owned emergency medical services helicopter operator in the United States, with a fleet of 300 air ambulance that average 85,000 transports and 100,000 flight hours per year as of December 2006....
     EC135 T2+ crashed into a wooded hillside during a night flight on May 10, 2008 near La Crosse, Wisconsin. The pilot along with a doctor and a nurse were killed.


Specifications (EC135 P2+/T2+)

G Bzrs


See also


External links

  • (in German)