The first of 15 EC135 T2+ training helicopters being produced by Airbus Helicopters for Australia completed its first test flight on Jan. 16, two months after signing the contract for the aircraft, the company said on Jan. 26.
The helicopter is being produced for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as part of a planned fleet for the new Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS). The HATS project is a joint training scheme for Australian Army and Navy personnel to train with the EC125 T2+, EC135 flight simulators, and a new flight-deck equipped training vessel at sea.
The first new training helicopter had its test flight from the production site at Donauwörth, Germany. The flight lasted 57 minutes.
This first test validated aircraft systems and engines with future flights expected to test customer equipment.
The EC135 T2+ is a civil design helicopter, but with military training attributes, Airbus said. It has a high-visibility cockpit, multi-axis auto-pilot, and a twin-engine system to replace current single-engine types. The company highlighted that the helicopter meets all training, technical, and safety requirements for future Army and Navy crews.
“At Airbus Helicopters, we are thrilled to have reached such a fantastic milestone in only two months from contract signing last November,” Peter Harris, head of sales of Airbus Helicopters–Australia Pacific, said in a statement. “This clearly demonstrates the commitment that we have toward supporting Boeing Defence Australia in meeting the ADF’s needs for training all future combat helicopter aircrew for the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army. We will take all of our milestones just as seriously.”
The Initial Operating Capability (IOC) is scheduled for late 2018. At full capacity, the HATS system is to accommodate up to 140 students a year. It will cover pilots, aviation warfare officers, aircrewmen, sensor operators, and qualified aircrew returning for instructor training.