First five-bladed H145 for Norwegian Air Ambulance

Today, 30 September 2020, Airbus at Donauwörth (Germany) has delivered the first five-bladed H145 to the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation.

The advantages of this new version over the conventional four-bladed H145, are multiple: there is an increase of its useful load by 150 kg and passenger comfort combined with a decrease in noise level. This makes the new H145 the quietest in its class. 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.

The new H145 received certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency in June 2020 and is now ready to take on a wide variety of missions. Certification by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is under review and expected soon. The certification for the military version of the five-bladed H145 will be granted in 2021.

The Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, founded by Norwegian doctor Jens Moe in 1978, is the mother company and owner of the Norwegian Air Ambulance. It brought HEMS (helicopter emergency medical service) to Norway by opening a first base near Oslo, using a Bolkow Bo105 helicopter rented from Germany. Today, Norwegian Air Ambulance operates all thirteen HEMS bases in Norway and all four bases in Denmark using a 100% Helionix-equipped fleet of H135s and H145s. This helicopter is dedicated to support the Foundation's important work to improve the HEMS operations.