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Airbus delivers first two H145 helicopters to Bavarian Police

Airbus delivered the first two of eight five-bladed H145s to the Bavarian Police. These first two helicopters will be used in the training of pilots and crews as the police force transitions from its current H135 fleet, which has been in service for more than 12 years. Delivery of the first fully equipped police helicopter is scheduled for the middle of next year.

“We would like to thank Bavaria and its police force for their continued confidence in our helicopters,” said Stefan Thomé, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Germany. “We are proud to equip the Bavarian police with the most advanced helicopters available for law enforcement missions, supporting them in keeping our communities safe.”

“Our police forces have to deal with a wide range of scenarios: searching for missing persons, transporting special units, fighting forest fires or dealing with natural disasters,” said Franz Muschick, Head of the Bavarian Police Helicopter Squadron. “The H145, with its outstanding performance and mission capabilities, will provide our police forces with an essential tool to fulfill these diverse missions.”

Bavaria’s fully equipped H145 helicopters will feature a computer system with tactical police mission software, operated by a foldable flat-screen mission command station for an operator in the cabin and a stowable monitor for the copilot. Airbus explains the crew will also be aided by a modern lighting concept and camera solutions, offering better situational awareness of the helicopter’s surroundings and events on the ground. Airbus also points out Bavaria’s fully equipped H145s will feature a next-generation hoist and the capability to transport external loads as well as for allowing for firefighting. The helicopters will feature illuminated blade tips.

The new version of Airbus’ H145 light twin-engine helicopter adds a new five-bladed rotor – leveraging a bearingless main rotor design – to the multi-mission aircraft, increasing the useful load of the helicopter by 150 kg.

In total, there are more than 1,600 H145 family helicopters in service, logging a total of more than seven million flight hours, including more than 200 H145 helicopters focused on public service and law enforcement missions. Powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines, the H145 is equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC), Helionix digital avionics suite, and 4-axis autopilot.