Aiut Alpin Dolomites commissions Airbus’ enhanced EC135 T3/P3 helicopter

Northern Italy-based Alpine mountain rescue service Aiut Alpin Dolomites has commissioned the new Airbus Helicopters’ upgraded EC135 T3/P3 aircraft for rescue operations.

The new helicopter offers Aiut Alpin Dolomites with power reserves for enhanced safety margins during flight and during manoeuvring; improved flight envelope, particularly in hot-and-high conditions; in addition to an augmented maximum takeoff weight of 2,980kg.

The Italian agency has currently deployed an EC135 T2 on the steep slopes and ski areas of the Dolomite mountains.

Airbus Helicopters Germany CEO Wolfgang Schoder said: "The EC135 T3/P3 represents Airbus Helicopters’ commitment to the continual improvement of our products, further improving a helicopter family that already is the worldwide reference for airborne emergency medical services, law enforcement and other critical missions."

The EC135 T3 helicopter for Aiut Alpin Dolomites features a new optional multifunctional floor mainly customised for emergency medical services (EMS) missions, which also replaces the requirement for a second floor.

"The EC135 T3’s improvements are impressive," commented Raffel Kostner, one of the founders of Aiut Alpin Dolomites, after a demonstration flight in the association’s new helicopter today. "It provides the rescue teams with tremendous power reserves and augmented performance for the high-altitude missions that are an integral part of our operations."

The latest light-weight twin-engine rotorcraft is being offered in two versions with corresponding upgraded engine options including Turbomeca’s Arrius 2B2 "Plus" for the EC135 T3 and Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PWC 206B3 for the EC135 P3.

The upgraded EC135 T3/P3 helicopters feature an extended main rotor and upgraded FADEC full-authority digital flight control software to a cockpit with completely integrated avionics for navigation and communications.

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Image: Aiut Alpin Dolomites’ new EC135 T3/P3 helicopter. Photo:courtesy of Airbus Helicopters / Charles Abarr – 2014.