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42-790: The Airbus Helicopters H175 (formerly Eurocopter EC175 ) is a 7-ton class super-medium utility helicopter produced by Airbus Helicopters . In China, the H175 is produced by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) as the Avicopter AC352 . Originally launched as the Eurocopter EC175 and the Harbin Z-15, it has been referred to as being a 'super-medium' helicopter. Formally launched at Heli-Expo in Houston on 24 February 2008, it

84-487: A transponder to help Air Traffic Control identify the aircraft on radar in order that ATC can provide separation to IFR aircraft. Meteorological conditions that meet the minimum requirements for VFR flight are termed visual meteorological conditions (VMC). If they are not met, the conditions are considered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and a flight may only operate under IFR. IFR operations have specific training requirements and certification required of

126-463: A VIP configuration It is fitted with wide sliding doors for ease of access and oversized jettisonable windows for emergency egress. The H175 has a flat floor without any partition between the cockpit and the cabin area, which enables various flexible layouts to be adopted. Either auxiliary fuel tanks or a storage area can be installed beneath the cabin floor, which can be accessed internally; a large luggage compartment externally accessible from either side

168-625: A congested area (town, settlement, etc.) it must fly high enough so that in the case of an engine failure, it is able to land clear safely AND it must not fly less than 300 m (1000 ft) above the highest fixed object within 600 m of the aircraft. Member states are allowed to modify the low flying rule to suit their jurisdiction, for instance in the UK, the "500 ft Rule" allows pilots to fly below 500 ft as long as they are no closer than 500 ft to any person, vessel, vehicle, building or structure. The rules for flying near congested areas are

210-452: 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 . Visual flight rules If the weather is less than VMC, pilots are required to use instrument flight rules , and operation of

252-672: A customer advisory team (CAT) approach. During the EC175's formal unveiling at Heli-Expo 2008, Eurocopter booked a total of 111 purchase options from 13 customers, including launch customers Bristow Helicopters and the VIH Aviation Group. During the Zhuhai Airshow in November 2008, a letter of intent for 5 Z-15s was signed between HAIG and Chinese domestic general-purpose aviation company Longken General Aviation Cooperation. As defined in 2008,

294-474: A first for Airbus Helicopters. The H175 was designed to exceed EASA CS-29 crashworthiness requirements. It is capable of performing full Category A dual-pilot operation; additionally, it possesses Sea State 6 capability, and can be equipped with two oversized 18-passenger life rafts and an emergency flotation system. Airbus Helicopters states that the H175's noise signature is "way below" International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirements. The H175

336-418: A joint partnership between Turbomeca and AVIC Engine for the rotorcraft. The engines drive the rotorcraft's five-blade Spheriflex main rotor and a three-blade tail rotor. The EC175's main gearbox will incorporate two accessory gearboxes and will be de-clutchable, avoiding the cost and weight of an auxiliary power unit (APU). The gears and the casing of the H175's main gearbox were developed using CATIA V5,

378-399: A low coastal overcast forces instrument approaches , while the rest of the state is still under visual flight rules. For pilots without an instrument rating who cannot legally fly by instrument flight rules, the restrictions of VMC minima can be troublesome in locations where weather conditions can change suddenly and unexpectedly or when weather events are highly localized. For instance,

420-429: A pilot at night may not be able to see and avoid obstacles. The VFR pilot is required to "see and avoid" obstacles and other aircraft. Pilots flying under VFR assume responsibility for their separation from all other aircraft and are generally not assigned routes or altitudes by air traffic control (ATC). Depending on the category of airspace in which the flight is being conducted, VFR aircraft may be required to have

462-430: A small cloud forming over the airport at less than 1000 feet technically requires the airport to allow only IFR flights using instrument approaches/departures. A VFR flight intending to land there would normally be denied clearance, and would either have to divert to another field with VMC, or declare an emergency and override the denial of clearance, which can prompt an inquiry and possibly result in adverse consequences for

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504-566: A total of 11,000 passengers, while achieving a dispatch rate in excess of 90%. NHV has ordered a total of 16 H175s. It has been alleged that the People's Liberation Army intends to order a large quantity of AC352s in the next decade to replace a significant portion of their existing rotorcraft fleet, such as older Mil Mi-8s , Sikorsky S-70s , Harbin Z-8s and Harbin Z-9s . In March 2015, Bristow Group became

546-809: A total of 15 H175s from Eurocopter Vostok in March 2011, announced that the remainder of its order had been placed on hold, this move was linked with a decline in oil prices and international sanctions placed upon Russia . In September 2015, it was announced that the Hong Kong Government Flying Service would become the launch customer for the Search and Rescue (SAR) variant of the H175. Data from EASA Type certificate and Airbus Helicopters website General characteristics Performance Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Utility helicopter A utility helicopter

588-550: A virtual mock-up, simplifying coordination between partners based 10,000 km apart. Airbus Helicopters-built H175s are powered by two 1,325 kW (1,775 shp) class, Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC)-equipped Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67E turboshaft engines, which provide for a 5,000-hour time between overhaul (TBO) and on-condition maintenance. Chinese-produced AC352s are equipped with two modular 1,800 shp class, dual-FADEC Turbomeca Ardiden 3C/WZ16 turboshaft engines, which were specifically developed by

630-518: Is night vision goggles -compatible. A sensor operator's console can be installed in the main cabin area, and a chin-mounted electrical-optical sensor can be equipped. In December 2014, the first production H175s, of the oil and gas industry model, entered service with Belgian operator Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen (NHV) for operations over the North Sea ; by August 2015, the first two examples had accumulated 1,000 flight hours over 750 flights, carrying

672-799: 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

714-477: Is built for civilian and parapublic applications, its primary markets being support of the oil and gas industry and search and rescue missions. Other applicable roles include parapublic operations, homeland security, air medical services, utility missions and corporate transportation. The EC175 is offered with multiple interior seating configurations, housing up to 18 passengers in an oil and gas transport configuration, 9-12 passengers in an executive layout, and 6-8 in

756-612: Is present in some configurations. The Helionix avionics suite is used on the H175; much of the state-of-the-art avionics are derived from those developed for the Eurocopter EC225 ; one such system is the Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS), a 4-axis dual-duplex autopilot which is linked to the rotorcraft's Flight Management System . The cockpit features a total of four 6X8-inch multi-function LCD displays, plus an optional central mission display. The H175's cockpit

798-407: Is responsible for the airframe, tail and intermediate gearboxes, main rotor, fuel system, flight controls and landing gear. Each firm separately handles marketing, customer support, and certification efforts for the type. Both the design and production of the rotorcraft made extensive use of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) . CAD allowed Airbus Helicopters and HAIG to create

840-447: Is studying single-pilot operations under instrument flight rules , but this is not considered to be a priority due to low demand for this functionality. Airbus Helicopters is responsible for the H175's main gearbox, tail rotor, avionics, autopilot, hydraulic and electrical systems, doors and transparencies. Airbus Helicopters is also the technical lead and system integrator, and built two of the three prototypes (the first and third). HAIG

882-580: 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

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924-504: The EC175 had the distinction of holding both the 3 km and 6 km time-to-climb records for its class, ratified by FAI , at about a minute per kilometre. In May 2015, a H175 was used as a demonstrator for Airbus Helicopter's low-noise helicopter instrument approach project, a world-first achieved via satellite-augmented navigation to optimize rotor-craft noise levels. By May 2015, the H175 had been certified for single-pilot operations under visual flight rules (VFR); Airbus Helicopters

966-428: The EC175 was established at Airbus Helicopters' Marignane facility; in 2008, it was reported that a second assembly line for the type was intended to follow within five years. In April 2014, an agreement between Airbus Helicopters and Avicopter was made for the production of 1,000 EC175; lasting for 20 years, manufacturing is split half-and-half between separate assembly lines operated by the two firms. As of June 2014,

1008-565: The FAR 91 minimums, so long as their operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface. In all EU member states, the Standardised European Rules of the Air apply: these set out a minimum altitude of 150 m (500 ft) above any obstacle within a radius of 150 m (500 ft), except with permission, or when taking off or landing. If an aircraft is flying over

1050-630: The United Kingdom, this is known as a "Traffic Service". In other countries, it is known as "Flight Information Service". In the United States and Canada, any certified pilot who meets specific recency of experience criteria may operate an airworthy aircraft under VFR. In the US, there are specific VFR cruising altitudes, based on the aircraft's course, to assist pilots in separating their aircraft while operating under visual flight above 3,000 ft above

1092-421: The United States, Canada, and Australia, a pilot operating under VFR outside Class B, C, D airspace can request "flight following" from ATC, to receive continuous verbal updates on air traffic. This service is provided by ATC if workload permits, but it is an advisory service only. The responsibility for maintaining separation with other aircraft and proper navigation still remains with the pilot in command (PIC). In

1134-470: The United States, class A airspace is measured using flight levels , and begins at FL180 up to FL600, which is about 18,000 to 60,000 feet as measured using an altimeter at standard pressure (29.92 inHg, 1013 mbar). An exception to IFR-only flying in this airspace is the occasional allowance of sailplanes within designated wave windows which may be opened by air traffic control when high altitude flights are to be conducted into mountain lee waves . In

1176-622: The aircraft will be primarily through referencing the instruments rather than visual reference. In a control zone , a VFR flight may obtain a clearance from air traffic control to operate as Special VFR . VFR requires a pilot to be able to see outside the cockpit to control the aircraft's altitude, navigate, and avoid obstacles and other aircraft. Governing agencies establish specific requirements for VFR flight, including minimum visibility, and distance from clouds, to ensure that aircraft operating under VFR are visible from enough distance to ensure safety. Under visual meteorological conditions ,

1218-550: The commercial marketing of the EC175 as follows: HAIG is responsible for selling the type within China and neighboring nations, Airbus Helicopters is responsible for sales to the rest of the world. On 4 December 2009, the EC175 prototype made its unofficial first flight; the official maiden flight of the prototype was on 17 December 2009 in Marignane , France. A two-year delivery delay was encountered, partly due to certification issues with

1260-449: The minimum visual range, distance from clouds, or cloud clearance requirements to be maintained above ground vary by jurisdiction, and may also vary according to the airspace in which the aircraft is operating. In some countries, VFR flight is permitted at night, and is known as night VFR . This is generally permitted only under more restrictive conditions, such as maintaining minimum safe altitudes , and may require additional training as

1302-576: 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

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1344-519: The pilot must be flying in VMC by the time they leave the surface footprint of the controlled airspace (otherwise they would be flying VFR in IMC which is illegal). VFR flight is not allowed in airspace known as class A , regardless of the meteorological conditions except after failure of two way radio communications or during declared emergencies such as VFR traffic attempting to avoid severe weather formations. In

1386-497: The pilot, and increased equipment requirements for the aircraft. Additionally, an IFR flight plan must usually be filed in advance. For efficiency of operations, some ATC operations will routinely provide "pop-up" IFR clearances for aircraft operating VFR, but that are arriving at an airport that does not meet VMC requirements. For example, in the United States, California's Oakland ( KOAK ), Monterey ( KMRY ) and Santa Ana ( KSNA ) airports routinely grant temporary IFR clearance when

1428-413: The pilot. To avoid these scenarios, VFR flights intending to land at or take off from an airport experiencing localized conditions marginally below VMC minima may request Special VFR clearance from the tower. SVFR flight is only allowed while within the portion of an airport's controlled airspace (class B, C, or D) that extends to the surface, and it must be explicitly requested by the pilot and granted by

1470-551: The project proceeded as per schedule: On 5 December 2006, the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) was completed; the Critical Design Review (CDR) was completed on 5 December 2007, at which point the design of the aircraft and all its sub-systems was frozen. In 2008, it was expected that development of the EC175 would cost €600 million. The EC175 was developed through close cooperation with existing operators via

1512-549: The rotorcraft's Helinix avionics suite. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) were originally expected to issue type certification for the EC175 sometime in 2013; this was formally received in January 2014. In September 2015, Avicopter publicly revealed their first AC352 prototype. In December 2015, flight tests of the Turbomeca Ardiden 3C/WZ16 powerplant were performed using an H175 prototype. An initial assembly line for

1554-588: The same in the UK as the rest of the EU CVFR flight is used in locations where aviation authorities have determined that VFR flight should be allowed, but that ATC separation and minimal guidance are necessary. In this respect, CVFR is similar to instrument flight rules (IFR) in that ATC will give pilots headings and altitudes at which to fly, and will provide separation and conflict resolution. However, pilots and aircraft do not need to be IFR rated to fly in CVFR areas, which

1596-621: The surface (AGL) but below 18,000 ft Mean Sea Level (MSL). Unofficially, most pilots use these rules at all levels of cruise flight. FAR 91.159 states that any aircraft: In the US, FAR Part 91 (specifically 91.119 ) of the Federal Aviation Regulations controls the minimum safe altitudes by which aircraft can be operated in the National Airspace System . Other aircraft, such as helicopters, powered parachutes, and weight-shift-control aircraft, are not required to meet

1638-448: The then-largest customer for the type, ordering a total of 17 H175s for offshore oil and gas missions. A further 5 units were added to the order in 2017. By January 6, 2020, the order for 22 units was canceled as part of Bristow's emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In June 2015, leasing firm Milestone Aviation Group expanded the number of H175s that it had on order to 28 rotorcraft. In June 2015, Russian operator UTair , who had ordered

1680-576: The topic of the co-development of a new medium-heavy twin-engine helicopter, tentatively designated as the EC175. In October 2005, AgustaWestland acknowledged that it had also been approached by AVIC II, and that the firm was interested in participating if Eurocopter failed to secure the co-development contract. On 5 December 2005, the signing of a development contract for the EC175 was announced by Eurocopter and AVIC-II's subsidiary Harbin Aircraft Industry Group (HAIG). Early development work on

1722-474: The tower (some airports, primarily large Class B facilities, do not allow SVFR operation in their airspace at all). Visibility on the ground must still be greater than one statute mile, but most other VMC minima such as ceiling are waived. The pilot is required to maintain VFR separation distances from other aircraft and, by requesting SVFR, asserts that they can do so despite the marginal conditions. For departing flights,

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1764-520: Was predicted by Airbus Helicopters that approximately 800 to 1,000 EC175s would be sold over an initial 20-year period. It entered service in December 2014; in 2015, the EC175 was formally renamed to the H175, in line with Eurocopter's corporate rebranding as Airbus Helicopters . In February 2005, Eurocopter president Fabrice Brégier revealed that in-depth discussions were being held between Eurocopter and China Aviation Industry Corporation II (AVIC II) on

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