Helicopters · Airbus Helicopters (originally Eurocopter)
Airbus Helicopters H135 / EC135 EC35
The Airbus H135, formerly the EC135, is a light twin-engine helicopter designed for emergency medical service and police work. Its enclosed fenestron tail rotor makes it quieter and safer around people.
H135s airborne over the US now
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of all airborne aircraftplus — on the ground
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H135s in the air over the last 24 hours
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Specifications
- ICAO code
- EC35
- First flight
- 1994
- Typical cruise
- 135 kt / 155 mph
- Service ceiling
- 20,000 ft
- Range
- 330 nm / 380 mi
- Capacity
- 1-2 pilots and up to 7 passengers
- Length
- 12.2 m / 40 ft
- Rotor diameter
- 10.2 m / 33 ft
Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B or Safran Arrius 2B turboshafts. Family: H135. Figures are typical published values, rounded; real performance depends on variant, weight and conditions.
What it does in US skies
H135s are among the most common air ambulances in the US, flying patients from accident scenes and small hospitals to trauma centers. Police departments also fly them.
Main US operators: Air medical operators, Police departments, Corporate operators.
How to recognize a H135
- Enclosed shrouded fenestron tail rotor instead of an open one
- Rear clamshell doors for stretcher loading
- Two engines on the cabin roof
- Rounded nose with a large windscreen
How it looks on a flight tracker
Usually flies below 3,000 feet at 110 to 140 knots, often on direct lines between hospitals. Medical flights may use operator or LIFEGUARD-style callsigns.
History
The EC135 first flew in February 1994 and entered service in 1996. It was renamed H135 in 2015, and more than 1,400 have been delivered worldwide.
Where H135s are right now
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What is the ICAO code for the Airbus Helicopters H135 / EC135?
The ICAO aircraft type designator for the Airbus Helicopters H135 / EC135 is EC35. Flight trackers and flight plans use this four-character code.
How fast does the H135 fly?
The Airbus Helicopters H135 / EC135 typically cruises at about 135 knots true airspeed (about 155 mph). Ground speed on a tracker varies with the wind.
How high can the H135 fly?
Its service ceiling is about 20,000 ft.