The Eurocopter EC135 is a lightweight five/seven seat twin-turbine-engine multi-role helicopter with a radius of 720 km.
The EC135 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
900 have been delivered since the EC135 helicopter entered service in 1996 with the German rescue company DRF - Deutsche
Rettungsflugwacht e.V.
On 8 September 2005, Eurocopter EC135 P2 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 EC135 P2 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
in service 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". On 31 December 2009,
the D-HSAN was returned to ADAC Luftrettung GmbH. Eurocopter EC135T2+
PH-HVB was used as a temporarily replacement and on 21 March 2010
Eurocopter EC135 P2+ PH-MMT entered
service as "Lifeliner Europe 4".
Eurocopter EC135 P2 D-HSAN was one of six EMS-helicopters operated by ANWB
Medical Air Assistance. The 4 lifeliner helicopters in the Netherlands are:
"Lifeliner 1" in Amsterdam;
"Lifeliner 2" in Rotterdam;
"Lifeliner 3" at Volkel AFB near Nijmegen
and "Lifeliner Europe 4" in Groningen.
ANWB Medical Air Assistance operates, next to the four lifeliner helicopters, Eurocopter EC135 T2+
PH-HVB and
PH-MAA for crew
training and as a spare aircraft for maintenance cover of the
lifeliners. When needed for maintenance, ADAC Luftrettung gives the MAA
back-up service with EC135 P2
D-HHIT and/or
D-HHTS.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
