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 in 1996 at Donauwörth. 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 EC135 helicopter entered service in 1996 with the German rescue company DRF - Deutsche
Rettungsflugwacht e.V.
On 27 March 2009, Eurocopter EC135 T2 PH-ELP "Lifeliner 3" was photographed at the heliplatform of
the MMT-helistation at Volkel AFB in the Netherlands. The MMT (Mobil Medical Team)
"Lifeliner 3" uses also the helideck of UMC St Radboud in Nijmegen.
The 2004-built Eurocopter EC135 T2 c/n 0370 was testflown as D-HECH and registered PH-ELP in the Netherlands with Medical Air Assistance BV
on 24 November 2004. The PH-ELP was registered with ANWB Medical Air Assistance on 3 February 2005.
Eurocopter EC135 T2 PH-ELP is one of six EMS-helicopters operated by ANWB
Medical Air Assistance. The 4 lifeliner 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,
the Eurocopter EC135 T2+ PH-HVB and
PH-MAA
for crew training and as a spare aircraft for maintenance cover of the
lifeliners.
When
needed for maintenance, ADAC Luftrettung gives the MAA back-up service
with EC135 P2
D-HHIT and/or
D-HHTS.
With six helicopters, the
MAA is ready for the 24-hours operation in 2011.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
