Two H135 helicopters delivered to Spain's Interior Ministry for official use.
The Spanish Guardia Civil and National Police have received a new fleet of Airbus H135 helicopters, designed with advanced performance, safety, and operational capabilities for law enforcement and public service missions.
These state-of-the-art helicopters feature twin-engine configurations, either with Safran Arrius 2B2plus engines or Pratt & Whitney PW206B3 engines, ensuring a reliable powerplant setup for diverse operational environments.
The Helionix flight deck, certified by Airbus in 2020 for single-pilot IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) operation, is another key feature. This innovative cockpit includes synthetic vision and customizable instrument panels that can either remove the copilot side for enhanced visibility or keep it for specialized equipment installation.
The H135 offers an optimal cabin size, accommodating up to six passengers in comfort, making it suitable for law enforcement personnel transport, medical evacuation, or tactical missions. With a main rotor diameter of 10.2 meters and a cruise speed around 254 km/h, these helicopters boast a range of up to 635 km, enabling effective response over urban and regional areas.
Enhanced visibility features such as Vertical Reference Windows also come standard. These windows install on existing doors without impairing door operation or imposing airspeed limitations, improving situational awareness during long-line search and rescue operations or tactical deployments.
The benefits of these new helicopters for Spanish law enforcement are clear. They offer improved mission flexibility, enhanced pilot situational awareness due to the Helionix cockpit and visibility aids, increased safety with twin-engine redundancy, and the ability to carry personnel or equipment efficiently within a compact and agile airframe.
These characteristics support the Guardia Civil and National Police in emergency response, surveillance, and public security operations effectively.
The delivery of these new helicopters is further proof of the Iberian success story of the H135 in Spain. The H135 fleet has accumulated over 6 million flight hours, and the Spanish Air Force and Navy will receive 11 and 7 H135 helicopters respectively, with deliveries starting next year.
From 2023, all three Spanish armed forces will be able to benefit from synergies in terms of training, operation, and maintenance. Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, stated that the new H135s will help law enforcement agencies to continue protecting and saving lives throughout Spain.
The H135 is the fleet leader in the twin-engine market segment, with more than 200 helicopters flying for law enforcement missions worldwide. The Airbus light twin-engine H135 is equipped with the Helionix avionics suite, one of the most advanced technologies available.
The Spanish Army already operates 16 H135 helicopters for training and support missions for the Military Emergency Unit (UME). The Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, and Fernando Lombo, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Spain, were present at the handover ceremony.
Airbus has delivered the first two H135 helicopters to the Spanish Guardia Civil and National Police. These helicopters will replace BO105 helicopters in a wide range of missions including police, surveillance, and rescue activities.
In total, the Ministry of Interior will receive 18 units of the H135 helicopters. With more than 1,350 H135 helicopters operated by 300 operators in 64 countries, the H135 has proven to be a much-loved helicopter in Spain, where more than 80 units are already flying all kinds of essential missions for more than 25 years. The delivery took place at the Airbus plant in Albacete.
The new H135 helicopters, delivered to the Spanish Guardia Civil and National Police, will undoubtedly enhance their efficiency in the aerospace industry. These advanced helicopters, equipped with cutting-edge technology and safety features, will not only aid in law enforcement missions but also contribute significantly to the finance sector, as they will be used for various services such as medical evacuation and tactical missions, generating potential revenue. Furthermore, with the H135's twin-engine configuration, it offers robust reliability and reduced maintenance costs in diverse operational environments, ensuring financially sound performance in the long run.
