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 21 April 2006, Eurocopter EC135 P2 D-HHIT was photographed at the helipad of the helistation of "Lifeliner 2"
at Rotterdam Airport in the Netherlands. The EC135P2 replaced at that time EC135T2
PH-ULP as "Lifeliner 2".
MMT (Mobil Medical Team) "Lifeliner 2" is based at Rotterdam Airport and uses also the helideck
of the Erasmus MC in Rotterdam. The 2005-built Eurocopter EC-135 P2 D-HHIT was registered in January 2005 and
delivered to the ADAC Luftrettung GmbH in Germany. The D-HHIT is used to operate as "Christoph
Europe 1" stationed at Aachen-Merzbrück Airfield in Germany. Callsign "Christoph" is used
for the German lifeliner helicopters since 1970 and is derived of Saint Christophorus, the Patron Saint for all
travellers. The 4 EMS-helicopters in the Netherlands are:
"Lifeliner 1" in Amsterdam,
"Lifeliner 2" in Rotterdam;
"Lifeliner 3" at Volkel AFB near Nijmegen and "Lifeliner Europe 4" 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.
With six helicopters, the MAA is ready for the 24-hours operation in 2011.
When needed for maintenance, ADAC Luftrettung gives the MAA back-up service with EC135 P2
D-HHIT and/or
D-HHTS.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
