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EC135 Overview

The EC135’s high endurance and extended range enables this helicopter to perform a full range of mission requirements, while carrying more payload over longer distances than any twin-engine aircraft in its class. 

Incorporating a modern cockpit and avionics – as well as Eurocopter’s Fenestron® tail rotor and bearingless main rotor – the EC135 is recognized for its high performance and outstanding maneuverability.  As one of the quietest helicopters in its class, the EC135 is approximately 7 db below ICAO standards.  This level represents a perceivable noise reduction of approximately 50 percent compared to older-generation helicopters in the same category – which is of particular importance to customers regularly flying over cities and in densely-populated areas, including emergency medical services and law enforcement agencies.

The EC135 has been designed with a high degree of crashworthiness, provided by the energy-absorbing fuselage and seats, along with crash-resistant fuel cells.  It has a fast cruise speed of 137 kts., and accommodates a pilot plus 6-7 passengers for transport missions, and one or two patients on medical airlift flights.

Two FADEC-equipped engine options are available: Turbomeca’s Arrius 2B2 and the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B2.  Both of these powerful, reliable turboshaft engines provide outstanding performance and vital reserves, even in one-engine inoperative scenarios, along with low fuel consumption. 

The EC135’s simple design allows fast and easy maintenance, ensuring optimal dispatch reliability and lower operating costs.  Its safety is enhanced by dual-system architecture, and the aircraft’s options of comprehensive suite of single- or dual-pilot IFR avionics offer all-weather reliability.

In the United States, American Eurocopter’s EC135 is the twin-engine market leader for emergency medical services (EMS), accounting for some 60 percent of deliveries during the past several years.  The EC135 is offered with a wide range of dedicated EMS interiors, which maximizes operator choice in configurations that provide ample room for single-patient or dual-patient transport.  A smooth ride is ensured with the helicopter’s anti-resonance isolation system (ARIS).

The growing list of U.S. EMS operators and service providers include Air Methods Corporation, Med-Trans Corporation, Memorial Hermann Life Flight, Metro Aviation, Omniflight, PennSTAR, REACH Air Medical Services and STAT MedEvac.

For off-shore service, the EC135’s panoramic visibility, exceptional maneuverability, range, twin-engine performance and safety, and large cabin make the helicopter perfectly suited for the sector’s demanding operations.  Many of the top companies in the oil and gas industry utilize the EC135 for their operations. The El Paso Corporation has acquired the helicopter as part of their offshore fleet replacement initiative and Era Helicopters uses EC135s along with EC145s, EC225s and AS350s from American Eurocopter.

The Broward County Sheriff’s Office in Texas introduced the EC135 in U.S. law enforcement service, equipping the helicopter with a rescue hoist, Night Sun illumination system, forward-looking infrared (FLIR) camera and LO-JACK tracker – which is complemented by the ability to carry a Bambi Bucket for firefighting.

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