JUSTIN WASTNAGE / LONDON
Eurocopter is to receive US Federal Aviation Administration certification for its EC145 at the HAI Heli-Expo next week. The helicopter, however, continues to face hurdles to UK certification.
The medium-weight utility twin helicopter, also designated the BK117C-2, is scheduled to be formally given its FAR29 certification at Heli-Expo in Orlando, Florida.
The Franco-German company will use the approval to kick-start a heavy marketing drive to capture the growing US emergency medical services (EMS) market.
However, the EC145 is unlikely to be certificated in its present form for the UK market.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority's rules on helicopters over 3,100kg (6,800lb) currently prohibit the EC145's single Perspex windshield, which eliminates the centre post by using flex-ball cables running from the cockpit controls up between the two panes to the overhead flight control unit.
The EC145 has a maximum take-off weight of 3,550kg.
Eurocopter paid over c1 million ($870,000) to get the EC145's forerunner, the BK117, redesigned with glass windscreens to meet UK bird-strike criteria.
The initial redesign was rejected because glass thickness caused reduced visibility. Only one BK117 is in operation in the UK and it is unlikely that Eurocopter would repeat the redesign without significant demand for the aircraft.
But the manufacturer is said to be considering more minor modifications to convince the CAA, which has yet to receive a formal application for EC145 certification.
Eurocopter president Jean-François Bigay says: "It's obvious that we must have a UK certificate for the EC145, so if technical modifications need to be made to meet UK concerns we will discuss these."
Manfred Merk, programme manager for the EC145, says: "Once we have a potential customer, we will approach the CAA and discuss a certification base."
Eurocopter UK distributor, McAlpine Helicopters' sales director David Lewis says: "If we can leap the regulatory hurdles, there is a market in offshore and passenger transit applications of between six and 10 aircraft over the next five years."
Source: Flight International
