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Eurocopter EC155 B
4K-AZ45 D-HLEW
D-HLTI G-ISST
N672LE OO-NHK
OO-NHP OO-NHT
OY-HJA OY-HSL
PH-EQR PH-EQU
PH-HHO PH-SHN
OY-HJJ Airbus Helicopters EC155 B1 Dauphin II c/n 6662 - DanCopter A/S - heliport Emmen in Holland - 7 November 2014 helicopters in Emmen

The Airbus Helicopters EC155 B1 is a medium-weight multi-role utility twin engine helicopter accommodating up to 12 passengers and 2 crew. The EC155 B is a development of the AS365N Dauphin II, with 40% larger cabin area, a new five-bladed Spheriflex main rotor with an extremely low vibration level and 'glass cockpit'. The EC155 B1 is powered by a pair of Turbomeca Arrius 2C2 turbine engines. The new generation of Fenestron tail rotor takes part in the decrease in external noise level. This tail rotor has 10 blades spaced irregularly around the hub. Development of the EC-155, initially known as AS-365N-4 Dauphin started in September 1996. The development of the AS365 N4 wide body helicopter was announced at International Paris Airshow in June 1997. A mockup of the N4 was shown at the International Paris Air Show at Le Bourget and on 17 June 1997, the prototype EC155, F-WDFK, a rebuilt Dauphin, flew first at Marignane. The first pre-poduction EC155 B flew on 11 March 1998. The French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) and the German Government Agencies (LBA) certification was awarded in December 1998 and the EC 155 got its single-pilot IFR certificate on 25 January 2000. The first three Eurocopter EC 155 Bs were officially handed over to the German Federal Ministry of the Interior / Bundesgrenzschutz (BGS) at the Bonn-Hangelaar base of the BGS on 16 March 1999. The EC155 B1 is a development of the EC155 B with more powerful engines and improved performance at high altitude and in hot temperature conditions. Deliveries of the EC 155B1 version began in September 2002. More than 170 EC155s have been sold. Since March 2015, Airbus Helicopters uses 'H155' as marketing designation for the EC155 helicopters. In 2015, Airbus Helicopters and Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) entered into an agreement to transfer the core production operations of EC-155 helicopters to South Korea. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) became the sole manufacturer of this type of helicopters. Now the entire development of the helicopter rested on the KAI company, which started the development of the helicopter into military versions. The LAH version was created armed with a 20 mm cannon, side mounts for missiles, bombs and machine guns. The helicopter can carry 10 armed soldiers on board. In 2023, Airbus Helicopters and local partner KAI launched series production of the Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) – derived from the former’s H155 medium-twin – with deliveries to commence in 2024.

As a result of the merger between the Eurocopter parents Aérospatiale-Matra; DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (DASA) and Construcciones Aeronàuticas Sociedad Anonima (CASA) in July 2000, the Eurocopter group became a division of the new formed EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space company). Taking off into 2014, EADS was rebranded as "Airbus Group". Uniting all its activities under a single brand, its helicopter division Eurocopter was rebranded as Airbus Helicopters on 8 January 2014.

On 29 August 2003, Airbus Helicopters EC155 B1 s/n 6662 was registered N588CF in the USA with Wells Fargo Bank Northwest NA Trustee. On 23 October 2003, the helicopter was registered with Tex-Air Helicopters Inc., Houston, Texas. On 20 May 2005, the N588CF was registered with Era Helicopters LLC, Lake Charles, Louisiana. Registration N588CF was cancelled as exported to Germany on 13 February 2007. The 2003-built helicopter was ferried to Eurocopter Germany at Kassel-Calden Airport In July 2007, Eurocopter Germany GmbH was permitted to fly the EC155 B1 as D-HLEV. On 30 October 2007, the EC155 B1 was seen at Kassel dual registered D-HLEV / OY-HJJ. On 11 December 2007, the aircraft was registered OY-HJJ with DanCopter A/S, Esbjerg. On 26 August 2010, registration OY-HJJ was cancelled and the next day the helicopter was registered LN-OYD with Blueway Offshore Norge, Oslo, as operator and DanCopter A/S, Esbjerg, Danmark, as owner. On 25 October 2011, registration LN-OYD was cancelled. In January 2011, the EC155 B1 was registered 5H-EXO with Everett Aviation Ltd., Nairobi, Kenya, as operator and DanCopter A/S, Esbjerg, Danmark, as owner. On 7 May 2013, the helicopter was restored as OY-HJJ with DanCopter A/S, Esbjerg. In August and September 2014, EC155 B1 OY-HJJ was operated by Heli Holland Offshore. DanCopter was part of the Blueway Group. In December 2014, NHV Group acquired the Blueway Group, including DanCopter, Blueway Offshore Norway, Airlift and Vertech Offshore. On 22 December 2014, the registered ownership of the OY-HJJ was changed to Parilease, with NHV as operator. From July 2015, after losing their contracts at Norwich to CHC Scotia, the OY-HJJ and the other five former DanCopter EC155 B1's were stored at the former operating and engineering base of Norwich and at Denham in the UK. After a period in storage, EC155 B1 OY-HJJ returned in service with NHV in the well-known yellow colors yellow colors out of Airport Den Helder (EHKD) until 31 December 2019. The helicopter was sold to Air Greenland A/S, Nuuk, and repainted in Air Greenland colors. On 29 June 2021, Eurocopter EC155 B1 OY-HJJ was registered with Air Greenland, Nuuk.
On 7 November 2014, Eurocopter EC155 B1 OY-HJJ was seen at the Heli Holland heliport near Emmen ready to return to DanCopter A/S at Airport Den Helder (EHKD) after heavy maintenance by Heli Holland Technics.
The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for both the EC155 and H155 helicopter is EC55.

page last updated: 01-09-2023
Copyright © Jack Wolbrink, Emmen, the Netherlands
 

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