Norwegian Air Ambulance to continue fleet modernization with Airbus H145

Norwegian Air Ambulance and Airbus have signed a frame contract for up to eight H145 helicopters, including the firm acquisition of two helicopters.

"We are honored to open yet another chapter with the Norwegian Air Ambulance, providing up to eight H145 helicopters under this new frame contract," said Thomas Hein, Head of Europe Region at Airbus Helicopters. "The H145's global reputation in Helicopter Emergency Medical Services, combined with its class-leading low acoustic footprint, CO2 emissions and operating costs, ensures it's the ideal choice for continued life-saving missions with the Norwegian Air Ambulance."

Today, Norwegian Air Ambulance operates all HEMS bases in Norway, relying mainly on 20 Airbus H135 and H145 helicopters. The organization's parent company, Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, was the first operator in the world to take delivery of a five-bladed H145 in 2020.

In total, there are more than 1750 H145 family helicopters in service, logging a total of more than eight million flight hours. Powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines, the H145 is equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC) and the Helionix digital avionics suite, including a 4-axis autopilot. Airbus Helicopters provided 54% of the 2900 Emergency Medical Services helicopters flying in the world today.

(article source: Airbus / editor: Anton van Rijsbergen)
(image source: Airbus)