Air-Rescue Service Rega Commands Acquisition of Nine Five-Bladed H145 Helicopters
The Swiss Air-Rescue Service Rega has placed an order for nine new Airbus H145 helicopters, set to replace their current four-bladed versions. This move is aimed at further boosting Rega's mission capabilities and ensuring the safety of operations.
The new H145 helicopters will feature a five-bladed rotor, a significant upgrade that increases the helicopter's useful load by 150 kilograms. This enhancement, coupled with a bearingless main rotor design, simplifies maintenance and improves serviceability, reliability, and readiness for critical missions. The new rotor system also promises improved ride comfort for both patients and crew.
Powering the new H145 helicopters are twin Safran Arriel 2E engines, each equipped with Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC). The helicopters will also incorporate the Helionix digital avionics suite and a highly efficient four-axis autopilot, enhancing safety and reducing pilot workload.
One of the standout features of the new H145 is its low acoustic footprint and lowest CO2 emissions among competitors, contributing to better environmental performance.
In terms of navigation, the H145 will be equipped with a state-of-the-art system. The navigation system will integrate and control a multi-sensor system for enhanced navigation capacities. The helicopters will also be certified as navigation procedure RNP-AR 0.1, the most accurate navigation procedure in the helicopter environment.
Ernst Kohler, CEO of Rega, stated that the H145 has proven itself in their operations since 2018. Rega currently operates 13 HEMS stations in Switzerland, with a fleet consisting of seven H145s and one H125. In 2021, Rega's helicopter crews carried out 14,330 missions, including the transportation of 471 COVID patients.
Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, expressed gratitude for the order, highlighting the H145's versatility as a platform suited for emergency medical services, law enforcement, public safety, and other critical missions. As of now, there are more than 1,500 H145 family helicopters in service, logging a total of over six million flight hours.
[1] Airbus Helicopters [2] Rega [3] Vincorion [4] Thales [5] Garmin
[1] The cooperation between Airbus Helicopters and Rega on the new H145 helicopters has also extended to partnerships with companies like Vincorion, Thales, and Garmin, tackling advanced technology and finance aspects of the project within the aerospace industry.
[2] With the acquisition of these new H145 helicopters, Rega will further expand its finance investments in the cutting-edge technology and safety-focused solutions of the aerospace industry, setting new standards for emergency medical services and critical missions.
