Coast Guard Operations Conducted by H125 for the Chilean Naval Force in Marine Emergencies
The Chilean Navy has recently expanded its capabilities with a fleet of five Airbus H125 helicopters, which have been extensively used in summer rescue operations, medical evacuations, and island support missions.
During the summer season, these H125 helicopters are deployed in search and rescue (SAR) operations, responding to emergencies such as maritime accidents, forest fires, and medical crises in remote areas or islands. Their agility, high performance, and reliability in varied terrains enable effective rescue missions even in challenging environments. The H125’s single-pilot IFR certification, certified in 2025 by the FAA, further enhances operational flexibility, allowing missions in poor visibility conditions.
For medical evacuation, the H125 helicopters are equipped and adapted to transport injured or ill personnel rapidly from isolated islands or coastal locations to medical facilities. Their relatively small size and maneuverability make them ideal for landing in constrained areas or ship decks, critical for urgent patient transport.
Additionally, the Chilean Navy uses these helicopters to support island logistics and surveillance, ensuring supply transport, personnel movement, and situational awareness in Chile’s island territories. This capability ensures continued support for Chile’s remote outposts and enhances maritime domain awareness.
The H125 helicopters have been instrumental in improving the Navy's speed of response to emergencies, as they do not require pauses between missions. They can reach speeds of up to 130 knots, 30% faster than previous aircraft, improving emergency response times. The Navy acquired these helicopters under the "Gaviota" project for modernizing the HU-1 squadron’s aircraft.
The H125 helicopters have been operating in the Coquimbo and Valparaiso regions for the past few months. During the 2020-2021 summer season, they clocked approximately 260 flight hours and were involved in 18 rescues, mainly on the beaches of La Serena, San Antonio, and Valparaiso. The Navy will begin its island support missions for Juan Fernandez Island, San Felix Island, and Easter Island with the H125 helicopters.
The Chilean Navy is responsible for maritime search and rescue missions, environmental protection, safeguarding national assets, and maintaining maritime safety. The addition of the H125 helicopters to their fleet has strengthened their ability to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies, ensuring the protection of human life and the preservation of Chile's maritime territory, which covers around 26 million square kilometres. The Navy operates with an efficient, fast, safe, and state-of-the-art fleet, providing a vital service to the people of Chile.
In the realm of finance, the Chilean Navy's acquisition of the H125 helicopters under the "Gaviota" project represents a significant investment, enhancing their capacities in various sectors such as aerospace, sports (rescue operations), and sports (island logistics and surveillance). The H125's ability to adapt to medical evacuations, ensuring rapid transportation of injured or ill personnel, illustrates its importance in the healthcare sector, an integral part of the broader industry.
