D-HSAN Eurocopter EC-135 P2 c/n 0276 - "Lifeliner Europe 4" - SZE-hospital in Emmen, Holland - 08/09/2005

The EC 135 is a lightweight five/seven seat twin-turbine-engine multi-role helicopter with a radius of 720 km. The EC 135 is offered with either Turbomeca Arrius 2B2 or Pratt and Whitney Canada PW206B2 engines. Development of the Eurocopter EC135 started in the 80s as the MBB Bo.108 Advanced Technology Helicopter. The prototype BO108 with conventional tail rotor flew first on 15 October 1988. When the helicopter divisions of MBB from Germany and Aerospatiale from France merged in January 1992 to form the Eurocopter Group, the Bo108 program was transferred as well. An advanced low noise ducted 10-blade Fenestron tail rotor was, next to other modifications, incorporated into the design and the name of the helicopter was changed into Eurocopter EC135. The prototype of the EC135 (D-HBOX s/n S-01) flew first on 15 February 1994 and went into series production in 1996 at Donauwörth. After German certification was granted on 14 June 1996, was the first customer delivery on 31 July that year. Over 600 have been delivered since the helicopter entered service in 1996 with the German rescue company DRF - Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht e.V.

On 8 September 2005, the D-HSAN "Lifeliner Europe 4" was photographed above the helipad of the Leveste Scheper Ziekenhuis Emmen in Emmen, the Netherlands. MMT (Mobil Medical Team) "Lifeliner Europe 4" is stationed at the helideck on the roof of the UMCG in Groningen. The 2003-built Eurocopter EC-135P2 D-HSAN was registered in March 2003 and delivered to the ADAC Luftrettung GmbH in Germany. On 1 October 2003. Eurocopter EC-135P2 D-HSAN replaced the PH-SHF as "Lifeliner 4". With the introduction of the new ADAC Luftrettung GmbH helicopter the call sign of this MMT was changed into "Lifeliner Europe 4". The D-HSAN is one of five EMS-helicopters operated by ANWB Medical Air Assistance. The 4 lifeliner helicopters in the Netherlands are: "Lifeliner 1" stationed in Amsterdam, "Lifeliner 2" stationed in Rotterdam; "Lifeliner 3" stationed in Nijmegen and "Lifeliner Europe 4" stationed in Groningen. ANWB Medical Air Assistance operates, next to the four lifeliners helicopters, an EMS-helicopter for crew training and as a spare aircraft for maintenance cover of the lifeliners. This EC135 T2+ c/n 0532 is registered PH-MAA.