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Eurocopter's EC175
Exceeds Targets With A 30 Percent Increase In Performance By Jim Douglas |
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January 9, 2012 - In releasing EC175 enhanced performance specifications, Eurocopter announced a baseline payload/radius-of-action capacity with 16 passengers at 135 nautical miles when configured for offshore oil and gas missions, out-performing any medium-lift helicopter on the market in terms of competitiveness.
This represents a 30 percent performance increase
compared with the initial performance baseline. For
longer-range missions, EC175 can transport 12 passengers
to a radius of action of 190 nautical miles.
In
addition, Eurocopter has launched the development of a
18 passengers configuration option, aiming at carrying
those 18 passengers to a radius-of-action of 100
nautical miles. |
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The
next-generation Eurocopter EC175 will incorporate significantly
increased range and payload capacity when it enters service at
the end of this year, and will be the first seven metric
ton-category helicopter delivered with such capabilities.
?Eurocopter
has maintained a two-way dialog with operators and end-users
throughout the EC175?s development program, providing us with an
ever better understanding of their operational needs from 2012
and beyond,? explained Eurocopter President & CEO Lutz Bertling.
?As a result, we have incorporated certain adaptations that will
further improve the helicopter?s operational capability, placing
it ahead of the competition from its entry into service.?
The EC175
program is progressing well, with first deliveries targeted in
late 2012 following certification in the offshore mission
configuration with the enhanced performance.
Ongoing
testing continues to validate the EC175?s rugged design,
including cold and hot weather trials, bird strike tests, and
gearbox operation for 30 minutes after loss of oil. Two EC175
prototypes have logged more than 270 flight hours to date and
industrial activity is continuing with the first two serial
aircraft being assembled at the Eurocopter?s Marignane facility
in France. |
The EC175 offers
state-of-the-art proven technology. It has been designed in cooperation
with the most demanding operators to deliver the highest safety
standards for passenger transport. This includes unique flight envelope
protection and pilot assistance with the most advanced 4-axis
dual-duplex automatic flight control system derived from Eurocopter?s
EC225 helicopter and a highly intuitive new avionics and human machine
interface. Pilot workload is decreased as the result of better
situational awareness and the help of an innovative crew-alerting
concept, supported by a powerful vehicle monitoring system. |
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