PH-EMS Eurocopter EC-135 T2 c/n 0374 - "Lifeliner 1" - Heliport Amsterdam in Holland - 16 October 2005

The Eurocopter 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 at Donauwörth in 1996. After German certification was granted on 14 June 1996, was the first customer delivery on 31 July that year. Over 530 have been delivered since the helicopter entered service in 1996 with the German rescue company DRF - Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht e.V.

Eurocopter EC135 T2 PH-EMS "Lifeliner 1" was photographed at Heliport Amsterdam. The MMT (Mobil Medical Team) "Lifeliner 1" base is at the helideck of the VU medisch centrum in Amsterdam. The 2004-built Eurocopter EC-135T2 c/n 0374 was testflown with the Eurocopter Deutschland testregistration D-HEC.. The helicopter was registered PH-EMS in the Netherlands with Medical Air Assistance BV on 3 December 2004. On 3 February 2005, the PH-EMS was registered with ANWB Medical Air Assistance. The 4 EMS-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. In January 2005, Eurocopter EC135 T2 helicopters replaced the MBB Bo-105 and the MDHI MD-900 helicopters in service with the MMTs in the Netherlands. The PH-EMS replaced the BO-105CBS-4 PH-KHD that was operated before as "Lifeliner 1". After being withdrawn from use the MBB Bo-105CBS-4 PH-KHD was stored at Bonn-Hangelar in Germany early 2005. On 9 May 2006, the PH‑KHD was transported to the Aviodrome in Lelystad, where this helicopter is on static display. 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.