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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. The ICAO Aircraft
Type Designator for the EC155 helicopters is EC55. Since March 2015, Airbus Helicopters
uses “H155” as marketing designation for EC155 helicopters. |
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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. On 7 November 2014,
EC155 B1 OY-HJJ was seen at the Heli Holland heliport near Emmen ready to return to DanCopter A/S
in Den Helder after heavy maintenance by Heli Holland Technics. 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-HJB
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. |
Luchtvaart déjà vu
