Airbus To Deliver First Upgraded H225 at Year-end

Airbus Helicopters plans to deliver the first upgraded H225 heavy twin (formerly known as the EC225e) at the end of this year. In the cockpit, the optional Rig’N Fly GPS-navigation-assisted software program aims to make oil rig approaches safer, thanks to a reduction in pilot workload. The system, which is retrofittable, has just beenEASA certified.

The helicopter's mtow is being increased from 24,229 pounds to 24,581 pounds, allowing an operator to carry an additional fuel tank. As a result, the radius of action can be pushed to 300 nm with 10 passengers.

However, Airbus Helicopters is no longer planning to integrate the improved Turbomeca Makila 2B engine into the H225; instead it is keeping the current Makila 2A1. The 2B would have enabled a 1,200-pound payload increase, but the plummeting oil price and the resulting sharp fall in heavy-helicopter sales—there were only twoH225 orders placed last year—changed the game. The decision not to pursue the development of the Makila 2B to power the H225 was made by Airbus Helicopters, in coordination with Turbomeca, according to the engine maker.

The Makila 2B has no other application and its development has come to a stop.