Airbus Helicopters to enhance EC225

摘要

Moving beyond the year-long struggle to solve a 2012 main gearbox issue that led to a pair of North Sea ditchings and a near 12-month grounding, Airbus Helicopters is rolling out a new version of the EC225 with more power, range and automation. After a scheduled certification in late 2015, the EC225e will compete with the higher-gross-weight version of the Sikorsky S-92, says Airbus Helicopters chief executive Guillaume Faury. "The EC225e responds to operators' requirements for extended range mission capability for deep water operations and oil and gas missions that are going always to longer distances from the coast," Faury says.