PARIS - The newest member of Airbus Helicopters’ EC145 rotorcraft family - the EC145 T2 - has been certified, clearing the way for customer deliveries beginning in the third quarter of this year. Issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the certification covers the full range of capabilities, including single-pilot and instrument flight rules (IFR) and single engine operations (Cat.A/VTOL), along with night vision goggle capability.
Approximately 20 EC145 T2s currently are currently in production at Airbus. Airbus Helicopters says it has received orders and options for more than 100 EC145 T2s to date, along with 15 for the military EC645 T2 variant ordered by the German Army.
Enhancements incorporated in the T2 version of the EC145 include new Arriel 2E engines and the company’s Fenestron shrouded tail rotor, along with upgraded main and new tail rotor gear boxes, and an advanced cockpit that uses Airbus Helicopter’s innovative Helionix digital avionics suite with four-axis autopilot.