Airbus Helicopters has gained European Aviation Safety Agency certification for a 50kg (110lb) increase to the maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of the H145 medium twin to 3.7t.
No structural modifications are required for the upgrade, says the manufacturer, which will be available from early this year.
"The new MTOW converts in pure useful load, be it more payload or more fuel," says programme chief Manfred Merk.
Introduced in July 2014, the H145 is powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 2E engines. MTOW was previously given as 3,650kg.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
