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Mosquito Control District.” “Six aircraft will now do the work that 10 used to do.”
Airbus Helicopters Inc. received a supplemental type certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration to allow the Lee County aircraft to operate at the higher weight. The H125 is considered to be among the leading high-performance single-engine helicopter available.
The district expects to operate each of the H125s 200 to 250 hours a year, O'Neal said. The peak mosquito-fighting season is May through September.
Airbus Helicopters Inc. produces the H125 at its final assembly plant in Columbus,
by a workforce that includes about 40 percent U.S. military veterans. The H125 is known for its high performance, payload, reliability, and multi-mission flexibility.
Meanwhile, Airbus will offer another model, the H135, for U.S. Navy helicopter trainer replacement. An H135 demonstrator aircraft in Navy trainer markings is on display this week at the 2018 Naval Helicopter Association Symposium in Norfolk, Va.
“The H135 is a market leading twin-engine, multimission helicopter performing the primary training mission for some of the finest militaries in the world,” said Chris Emerson, President of Airbus Helicopters Inc. and Head of the North America Region.
The U.S. Army operates Airbus Helicopters' twin-engine UH-72A Lakota as its initial entry
rotary wing trainer at Fort Rucker, Ala. The Lakota is made in Columbus, as well.
“As a twin-engine helicopter, the H135 provides a training environment most similar to the Navy's warfighting rotorcraft fleet, creating opportunities for cost and operational synergies compared to a single engine trainer,” Emerson said.
One of the safest aircraft in its class, the H135 is fitted with a Glass Cockpit, a crash-resistant fuel system, energy absorbing seats, fuselage and landing gear. The H135 has a proven record of unrivaled operational costs as result of continuous technological improvements. The H135 is the preeminent military training helicopter in the world, currently providing pilot training for military pilots in over 13 countries around the world.