45-712: The Airbus Helicopters H125 (formerly Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil (or Squirrel )) is a single-engine light utility helicopter designed and originally manufactured by the French corporation Aérospatiale , and later by Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters). In North America, the H125 is marketed as the AStar . The AS355 Ecureuil 2 is a twin-engine variant, marketed in North America as the TwinStar. The Eurocopter EC130 ( Airbus Helicopters H130 )
90-797: A request for proposals to replace the Squirrel HT1; Airbus Helicopters has already announced its intention to offer a mixed fleet of Eurocopter EC130s and Eurocopter EC135s in response. Since May 1984, the Royal Australian Navy 's Fleet Air Arm has operated a fleet of AS350s, these were upgraded to the AS350 BA standard in 1995; the Royal Australian Air Force had previously operated the AS350 for training purposes, and briefly for search and rescue missions, but these were later transferred to
135-724: A contract with the Brazilian Army to substantially upgrade and refurbish their existing fleet of 36 AS350 Ecureuils. In the United Kingdom, the Defence Helicopter Flying School operated 26 AS350, designated Squirrel HT1 , for the training of pilots of Britain's armed forces; the type was introduced from 1997 onwards as a replacement for the Aérospatiale Gazelle . In September 2014, the UK's Ministry of Defence issued
180-491: A crucial role in military operations by providing defensive capabilities in scenarios of evacuation and cargo transportation, as well as offensive roles in fire support and surveillance. Their ability to adapt to different mission requirements contribute significantly to the success of military objectives . Tata Advanced Systems Tata Advanced Systems Limited ( TASL ) is an Indian aerospace manufacturing , military engineering and defense technology company. It
225-532: A long-range continuous zoom-type thermal camera, a long-range continuous zoom-type day camera, and a laser rangefinder for analyzing the distance of the target. The system can detect vehicles within a range of 50 km including the type and humans within 40 km. TASL licence-manufactures Lanza-N L-band air surveillance radars for the frontline warships of the Indian Navy . The radar is originally manufactured by Indra Sistemas . Indian Navy ordered 23 such radars from
270-427: A three- blade main rotor, which is furnished with a Starflex rotor head. The type is known for its high-altitude performance and has seen use by operators in such environments. Both the main and tail rotors make use of composite material and are designed to minimize corrosion and maintenance requirements. The AS350 was also developed to comply with the noise requirements in place in locations such as national parks ;
315-535: A typical use of the type, by 2015. By 1999, the AS350 had become the prime helicopter being used by the United States Customs Service for light enforcement operations; by 2007, the agency had become the single largest operator of the type in the world. By 2012, out of the 3,300 AS350s in operation across the world, 783 of them were in service with American-based operators. In the Russian market since 2006,
360-420: Is a derivative of the AS350 airframe and is considered by the manufacturer to be part of the Écureuil single-engine family. In the early 1970s, Aérospatiale initiated a development programme to produce a replacement for the aging Aérospatiale Alouette II . While the Aérospatiale Gazelle , which had been developed in the 1960s and 1970s, had been met with numerous orders by military customers, commercial sales of
405-700: Is a fully owned subsidiary of Tata Sons , a holding company for the Tata Group . TASL entered into a joint venture with Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation to manufacture the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter in India for the domestic civil and military markets. The plan was to have a US$ 200 million manufacturing plant operational in Hyderabad by 2010. As production began, the first S-92 cabin was delivered in November 2010, and capacity
450-799: Is a multi-purpose helicopter capable of pursuing a wide array of tasks. They have proven useful in both civilian and military operations, with versatility being their defining trait. Helicopters play a crucial role in various aspects of civilian safety. Police and fire rescue aircraft demonstrate exceptional versatility across a broad spectrum of task. Common applications for civilian utility include traffic surveillance, medical evacuations , news coverage, and search and rescue missions. Recently, usage has been extended to air evacuations , air and water pollution control, emergency cargo transportation (including blood, organs, and special equipment), and as helitankers in aerial firefighting . Traditionally, helicopters with three placed reciprocating engines , such as
495-1458: Is frequently equipped with a Bambi Bucket , capable of carrying up to 1,500 liters of water, making it an effective tool for aerial firefighting . The AS350's agility, power, and ability to operate in challenging terrains, such as dense forests and mountainous regions, make it invaluable for combating wildfires. The AS350 is in service around the world operated by private individuals, airline and charter operators, emergency medical teams, governments and law enforcement agencies. [REDACTED] Argentina [REDACTED] Austria [REDACTED] Botswana [REDACTED] Brazil [REDACTED] Burkina Faso [REDACTED] Cambodia [REDACTED] Canada [REDACTED] Central African Republic [REDACTED] Chad [REDACTED] Chile [REDACTED] Denmark [REDACTED] Ecuador [REDACTED] Egypt [REDACTED] France [REDACTED] Gabon [REDACTED] Georgia [REDACTED] Guatemala [REDACTED] Iceland [REDACTED] Indonesia [REDACTED] Israel [REDACTED] Jordan [REDACTED] Kenya [REDACTED] Lesotho [REDACTED] Madagascar Utility helicopter A utility helicopter
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#1732852187780540-580: The 47G Series and the Hughes 300C were the primary choices for civilian use. However, the preference has been shifted towards turbine engines . The FH-100 and the Bell 206A JetRanger are examples of turbine engine helicopters which have proven to be more effective in operational scenarios. The arising issue with civilian use helicopters is the price tag of the turbine engine helicopters. With initial cost being around $ 100,000, difficulties are posed when budgeting for
585-822: The Australian Army . In 2017, the AS350 was retired from Australian Navy service. Between June 2007 and December 2007, the Danish Air Force operated a deployment of four AS350 helicopters at Basra International Airport , Iraq , to perform liaison and reconnaissance missions in support of coalition forces during the Iraq War . In June 2015, the Argentine Defense Ministry ordered 12 H125s to replace their 1970s era Aérospatiale SA 315B Lamas for para-public support missions, such as search and rescue operations, inside Argentina. By June 2020, 3,663 H125 were operational,
630-627: The Indian Armed Forces for surveillance. It has agreements with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and "Urban Aeronautics" for cooperation and co-development of UAVs in India. It has developed and successfully flight tested a long-range kamikaze drone known as ALS-50 which can strike beyond ranges of 50 km and turn back in case of an abandoned mission and will soon be in use by the Indian armed forces. TASL developed Rajak-XLR an enhanced variant of Rajak-ULR for Regiment of Artillery . It consists of
675-686: The Lockheed C-130 Hercules and the Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules in India. It is a 74:26 joint venture which currently assembles Hercules centre wing boxes and empennages . In partnership with Airbus Defence and Space , the company fielded the EADS CASA C-295 medium–lift tactical transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force's light-cargo fleet renewal program, which the Indian government approved on 13 May 2015. Under
720-646: The Pilatus PC-12NG from 2016 to 2026. The aerospace and military division of Tata Motors was sold to Tata Advanced Systems on May 3, 2018. Lockheed Martin declared in September 2018 that, in partnership with TASL, it would manufacture wings for the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon . Inaugurated in 2018, the Hyderabad facility of Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL), a joint venture between Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems, will serve as
765-547: The Royal Moroccan Armed Forces in 2024, Tata Advanced Systems will establish a plant in Casablanca . The first WhAPs are expected to be rolled out in 18 months, with the intention of catering to the broader African market. The production facility, which will be operational within a year, will be able to produce 100 combat vehicles yearly. TASL is bidding to develop and build unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for
810-402: The AS350 (such as the main and tail gearboxes) are now maintained locally. On 9 September 2015, China's first helicopter leasing company, CM International Financial Leasing Corp Ltd (CMIFL), placed an order for 100 Ecureuil-series helicopters, these are to be a mix of H125 and H130 helicopters. Brazil has been an extensive operator of the AS350; by 2011 more than 300 helicopters were operating in
855-537: The AS350 and other helicopters built by the manufacturer have been sold and supported by wholly owned subsidiary Eurocopter Vostok ; UTair Aviation soon emerged as the largest Russian operator of the AS350 B3e with a fleet of at least 20 of the type. In December 2014, EASA validation was issued for Airbus Helicopters China to conduct training and support activity at their facility in Shenzhen , China; various components of
900-554: The AS350's avionics are provided by Garmin , such as the GI 106A course-deviation indicator, GNS 430 VHF /VOR/localizer/glideslope indicator/ Global Positioning System receiver, GTX 327 Mode A and C transponder, and GMA 340H intercom. The Vehicle and Engine Multifunction Display (VEMD) and the First Limit Indicator (FLI) both serve to increase the aircraft's safety during flight, reducing the number of gauges that need to be monitored by
945-561: The AS350B, deliveries of the AS350C began in April 1978. Over time, the AS350 Écureuil/AStar has received further development; while the aircraft's design remains broadly similar, aspects such as the rotor system , powerplants, and avionics have been progressively improved. On 6 February 1987, a prototype AS350 flew with a fenestron tail-rotor in the place of its conventional counterpart. On 1 March 1997,
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#1732852187780990-489: The FAL. The groundbreaking ceremony will be held by year-end. The H125's engine and gearbox will come from France, the main airframe from Germany, and the tail boom from Spain, according to reports. On 23 July 2024, TASL and Airbus signed the deal for production. The AS350 is a single engine helicopter, powered either by a Lycoming LTS101 or Turbomeca Arriel powerplant (for twin-engined variants, see Eurocopter AS355 ), that drives
1035-483: The Indian army as a signals intelligence gathering and surveillance platform. In February 2021, Lockheed Martin announced that they are teaming with Tata Advanced Systems for meeting the Indian Navy's proposed requirement for Naval Utility Helicopter (NUH). In September 2021 India has signed deal of buying C-295 Cargo aircraft and that will be made by Tata Advanced System. In 2024, Tata Advanced Systems announced that
1080-608: The Spanish firm. The first 3 units were directly delivered by Indra while the rest of 20 units will be manufactured in India. It was reported that INS Mysore has been retrofitted with the radar. TASL built TSAT-1A at the Vemagal facility in Karnataka in collaboration with Satellogic . It is the First private-sector-owned sub-metre resolution earth observation satellite in India. the satellite
1125-494: The US commercial market, at one point selling roughly one AS350 every business day. In March 2015, the first Columbus-assembled AS350 B3e received its FAA certification. In December 2015, Airbus Helicopters reported their intention to double the rate of AS350 production at Columbus in 2016 over the previous year, and that the facility is capable of producing up to 65 AS350s per year. The H125 Final Assembly Line (FAL), which will serve both
1170-667: The agreement, Tata Advanced Systems has been selected as the Indian Production Agency (IPA) by Airbus DS. Under the project 16 complete aircraft will be imported, while 40 aircraft will be manufactured in India. The Final Assembly Line (FAL) complex was inaugurated in October 2024. The first ‘Make in India’ C295 will roll out of the Vadodara FAL in September 2026. The company has also entered an agreement to produce structures for
1215-413: The cockpit, decreased maintenance costs, a re-designed cabin, and a comfortable Stylence interior (optional). Older aircraft often undergo refurbishment programs to install aftermarket features, or for the addition of functionality common to newer production aircraft, such as retrofitting of the glass cockpit. On 14 May 2005, an AS350 B3 piloted by Eurocopter test pilot Didier Delsalle touched down on
1260-672: The company and Lockheed Martin are looking at further opportunities in India. This includes establishing a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in India to support the IAF's fleet of 12 C-130Js and other global Super Hercules fleets. It also includes expanding the C-130J manufacturing and assembly in India to produce aircraft for the IAF’s Medium Transport Aircraft program, which subject to U.S. government and Indian government approvals. Following an armored vehicle contract from
1305-633: The country, including from the flight deck of the Brazilian aircraft carrier São Paulo . Since 1984, the Brazilian Navy has used AS350s to support the Brazilian Antarctic Program . Helibras , a wholly owned subsidiary of Eurocopter, operates in the country; of the 600 helicopters it had domestically manufactured for the Brazilian market by 2012, 70% were AS350s. In January 2011, Helibras signed
1350-477: The exclusive global manufacturer of fuselages for AH-64 Apache helicopters supplied by Boeing to its clientele worldwide. Tata Power SED was purchased by Tata Advanced Systems from Tata Power in 2020. In early 2021, it was reported that Tata Advanced Systems of India had likely bought the intellectual property rights of the Grob G180 SPn aircraft for the development of a military variant to be offered to
1395-508: The first AS350 B3, equipped with an Arriel 2B engine, performed its first flight. Conversion programs and addons for AS350s have been produced and are offered by third-party 'aftermarket' aerospace firms in addition to those available directly from the type's prime manufacturer. Variants of the Arriel-powered AS350B, AS350 BA, AS350 B1, AS350 B2, and AS350 B3, were progressively introduced; the later B3 differing from preceding models by
Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil - Misplaced Pages Continue
1440-407: The in-cabin noise levels are such that passengers may also readily converse during flight. The aircraft can also be quickly started up and shut down, which is often useful during emergency medical services roles. It is equipped with hydraulically -assisted flight controls ; these controls remain operational, albeit operated with greater physical effort, in the event of a hydraulic failure. Much of
1485-638: The increasing use of digital systems, such as the Garmin -built G500H avionics suite and FADEC engine control system. Prior to 2013, the type had been manufactured principally at Eurocopter's Marignane facility, near Marseille , France; Eurocopter opted to, as part of a move to disperse its helicopter production activities, begin AS350 production and final assembly activities at its factory in Columbus , Mississippi, for deliveries to U.S. commercial helicopter market. The Astar has been Eurocopter's biggest-selling product in
1530-883: The internal space and/or equipment fit-out to be rapidly reconfigured to enable aircraft to be switched between roles. Public service operators, such as those in law enforcement , often have forward looking infrared (FLIR) cameras and other mission systems installed on their aircraft. Other optional equipment on offer to operates had included real-time data links , rescue hoists, underslung cargo hooks, electrical external mirrors , search lights , tactical consoles, night vision goggle -compatibility, moving-map system, internal cabin tie-downs, second battery kit, sand filters, wire strike protection system , 4-channel radio, tail rotor arch, cabin floor windows, and removable seats. Modern aircraft have refinements beyond those featuring on older models; these changes include dual-channel FADEC -equipped engines, increasing use of digital avionics in
1575-696: The largest number of any type. In June 1978, Transport Canada (TC) issued the Canadian type certificate for the AS 350 C model, marking it as the first of the AS 350 series certified in Canada. The AS 350 B was added to the type certificate 's data sheet in February 1980, and the AS 350 B1 received certification from TC in July 1988. AS350s are widely utilized in Canada for fire suppression and mountain operations. This versatile helicopter
1620-612: The local and export markets, will be introduced by Airbus with Tata Advanced Systems in India . The first Made-in-India helicopter with EASA-certified quality assurance will be delivered in 2026. Ten helicopters will be manufactured each year at final assembly, with the number of units produced gradually increasing to 20, 30, or 50 in the future. As of now, 500 units is expected to be produced in 20 years. The H125 base variant produced in India, will cost above Euro 3.2 million. Airbus has reportedly identified 8 locations to become potential sites for
1665-576: The necessary modifications. Such modifications include night vision capabilities , infrared , and radar . In military terms, a utility helicopter is an aircraft designed to transport troops, but is versatile in performing various combat roles. These tasks include command and control , logistics, casualty evacuation, and fire support . The defining characteristics of these helicopters are lightweight frames capable of quick maneuvers , and space, for transporting troops and cargo. Common types of cargo include ammunition, weapons, and food. These aircraft play
1710-433: The pilot and thereby reducing their workload. For increased smoothness in flight, which positively affects passenger comfort as well as safety, stability augmentation systems can be installed. Later-production aircraft feature new avionics and systems such as the integration of an Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) and autopilot, a glass cockpit featuring three liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) and digital avionics, such as
1755-576: The rescue of Sudarshan Gautam between Camps III & IV in Everest's Yellow Band on the morning of 20 May 2013. On 2 June 2014, an AS350 B3e broke a national record in Mexico by successfully landing on the peak of Pico de Orizaba , at 5,636 m (18,490 ft), the nation's tallest mountain. The AS350 AStar has been successful in the US market, having become the most popular helicopter platform in use with American governmental agencies, law enforcement being
1800-589: The second prototype, powered by a Turbomeca Arriel 1A, following on 14 February 1975. The Arriel-powered version, the AS350B, intended for sale throughout the world except for North America, was certified in France on 27 October 1977, while the Lycoming powered AS350C (or AStar) was certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration on 21 December 1977. In March 1978, deliveries to customers began for
1845-431: The synthetic-vision terrain mapping system and Airbus's Multibloc center console upon which radios may be mounted. The AS350 has proven popular in a range of roles; multiple cabin configurations can be used, between four and six passengers in a typical seating configuration, and large sliding doors can be fitted to either side of the cabin. In some operators' fleets, the furnishings of the cabin has been designed to enable
Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil - Misplaced Pages Continue
1890-520: The top of Mount Everest , at 8,848 m (29,030 ft), a record that has been confirmed by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale . On 29 April 2010, a stripped-down AS350 B3 rescued three Spanish alpinists, one at a time, from the slopes of Annapurna I , Nepal at an altitude of 6,900 m (22,640 ft); this set a new record for the highest such rescue. The record was increased to 7,800 m (25,590 ft), during
1935-401: The type had been less than anticipated, thus the need for a civil-oriented development was identified. The development of the new rotorcraft, which was headed by Chief Engineer René Mouille , was focused on the production of an economic and cost-effective aerial vehicle, thus both Aérospatiale's Production and Procurement departments were heavily involved in the design process. One such measure
1980-478: Was expected to increase to 36–48 cabins a year. By the end of July 2013, 39 cabins had been assembled. The joint venture with Sikorsky has since been expanded to include the development of aerospace components for other OEMs. This facility, called Tara, also located in Hyderabad, was completed in 2011 and commenced production in 2012. Another TASL joint-venture, with Lockheed Martin , is producing aero structures for
2025-485: Was the use of a rolled sheet structure, a manufacturing technique adapted from the automotive industry ; another innovation was the newly developed Starflex main rotor. It was also decided that both civil and military variants of the emergent helicopter would be developed to conform with established military requirements. On 27 June 1974, the first prototype, an AS350C powered by a Lycoming LTS101 turboshaft engine, conducted its maiden flight at Marignane , France ;
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