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 at Donauwörth in 1996. 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 helicopter entered service in 1996 with the German rescue company DRF - Deutsche
Rettungsflugwacht e.V.
On 23 July 2007, Eurocopter EC135 T2 PH-ULP "Lifeliner 2" was photographed at the helipad of
the MMT-helistation at Rotterdam Airport in the Netherlands. The MMT (Mobil Medical Team)
"Lifeliner 2" uses also the helideck of the Erasmus MC in Rotterdam.
The 2004-built Eurocopter EC135 T2 c/n 0376 was registered PH-ULP with Medical Air Assistance BV
on 16 December 2004. The PH-ULP was registered with ANWB Medical Air Assistance on 3 February 2005. The PH-ULP replaced the BO-105CBS-4
PH-KHE that was operated before as "Lifeliner 2". After being withdrawn from
use the MBB Bo-105CBS-4 PH-KHE was stored at Bonn-Hangelar in Germany early 2005. On 2 January 2007, the registration PH-KHE was cancelled and the helicopter
was broken up for spares.
Eurocopter EC135 T2 PH-ULP is one of six EMS-helicopters operated by ANWB Medical Air Assistance. The EMS-helicopters
in the Netherlands are: "Lifeliner 1" stationed in Amsterdam,
"Lifeliner 2" stationed in Rotterdam;
"Lifeliner 3" stationed at Volkel AFB near Nijmegen and "Lifeliner Europe 4"
stationed 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 Eurocopter EC135 P2
D-HHIT and/or
D-HHTS.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
