HTM Helicopter Travel Munich yesterday signed a letter of intent to acquire an EC145 T2, adding this enhanced version of Eurocopter’s popular EC145 rotary-wing aircraft to its fleet for the servicing of offshore wind farms.
The EC145 T2 was selected for its outstanding operational performance, including the capability to support offshore wind farm missions by carrying two service teams – totaling six persons – while still being able to deploy and recover one of the teams by hoist.
In HTM Helicopter Travel Munich’s operations, the twin-engine helicopter will be qualified for single- and dual-pilot offshore operations, and equipped with systems that include an automatic flight control system, weather radar, moving map, traffic advisory system, external winch, cargo hook and emergency floats.
“Performance counts in our business, and this helicopter provides what we need to meet the operational demand,” said Hans Ostler, the CEO and owner of Helicopter Travel Munich, at yesterday’s signing ceremony during the Heli-Expo 2012 exposition. “Our activities are growing, and we look forward to introducing the EC145 T2 for new and ongoing offshore wind farm projects.”
HTM Helicopter Travel Munich has performed more than 5,200 hoist cycles for offshore wind power plants since the beginning of 2009, setting the standards for such missions in the German North Sea region. The company also conducts VIP transport, airborne filming, aerial work and training. It currently has 14 helicopters from Eurocopter’s product line in its fleet, consisting of the AS350, AS355, EC120, EC135 and BK117 versions.
“Eurocopter understands the high demands made on a helicopter in wind farm servicing, which is one of the reasons why we evolved the EC145 T2 version,” Wolfgang Buchner, Head of Central Europe Sales . “HTM Helicopter Travel Munich will fully benefit from the EC145 T2’s capabilities when the aircraft enters its inventory in 2014.”
The EC145 T2 made its world debut at the 2011 Heli-Expo event, and its enhancements include the incorporation of Eurocopter’s Fenestron shrouded tail rotor, new Arriel 2E engines, upgraded main and tail rotor gear boxes, an innovative new digital avionics suite and a 4-axis autopilot.
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Offshore WIND staff, February 14, 2012; Image: Eurocopter