The Airbus Helicopters EC135 / H135 is a lightweight five/seven seat twin-turbine-engine multi-role helicopter with a radius of 720 km.
The EC135 is offered with either Safran Helicopter Engines (former: Turbomeca) Arrius 2B2 or Pratt & Whitney 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 Aérospatiale 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 in series
production in 1996 at Donauwörth. On 14 June 1996, the German certification was granted by the LBA and the first customer delivery
followed on 31 July that year. Next to the EC135 a special military version was developed designated the Eurocopter EC635. The
EC635 has a structural reinforcement of cabin structure and can be equipped with wire-guided, laser-guided, autonomous missiles. Over
1500 EC135 / H135 / H135M airframes have been delivered since the helicopter entered service in 1996. In March 2015, Airbus Helicopters
changed the marketing name for its entire product line to better reflect its closer allignment with ist parent company and simplify the
naming convention for the portfolio. That is why the EC135 T3/P3 has since been marketed as 'H135' as stated in revison No.EASA.R.009 Issue:
07 of the Type Certificate Data Sheet for EC135 dated 18 March 2015. 'H135M' is used as marketing designation for the military EC635 P3(CPDS);
EC635 P3H; EC635 T3(CPDS) and EC635 T3H helicopters. The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for the Airbus Helicopters EC135 P2+ is EC35
As a result of the merger between the Eurocopter parents Aérospatiale-Matra; DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (DASA)
and Construcciones Aeronàuticas Sociedad Anonima (CASA) in July 2000, the Eurocopter group became a division of the new formed
EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space company). Taking off into 2014, EADS was rebranded as "Airbus Group". Uniting
all its activities under a single brand, its helicopter division Eurocopter was rebranded as Airbus Helicopters on 8 January 2014.
On 16 August 2004, Eurocopter EC135 P2 s/n 0351 was flown first.
On 28 September 2004, the Eurocopter EC135 P2 was registered N170AE in
the USA with Cfs Air LLC, Danbury, Connecticut. On 13 April 2005, the EC135 P2 was
re-registered N135AN with Cfs Air LLC. The helicopter was operated by Omniflight
Helicopters Inc. in Ohio as an EMS helicopter commissioned by MedFlight Ohio. In August
2001, the Air Methods acquired the parent company of Omniflight
Helicopters. Since early 2013, Eurocopter EC135 P2 N135AN is operated by Air Methods for
the Air Care Team of Orlando Health. Orlando Health is a healthcare
network, based in Orlando, Florida and home to Central Florida's only
Level One Trauma Center. The Air Care Team is their helicopter ambulance
service and serves all Orlando Health hospitals. The Air Care Team also provides assistance and support to other hospitals located
throughout Florida based on medical necessity. On 16 December 2013, the Eurocopter EC135 P2 N135AN was registered with
Helifleet 2013-01 LLC, Wilmington as owner. The helicopter is as before operated by Air Methods for the Air Care Team of Orlando Health.
On 27 April 2016, the aircraft was struck by a motor vehicle after landing next to an accident site on a roadway in south Orlando west of Kissimmee, Florida.
The helicopter was damaged at the rear rotor and had to be towed away.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
