I spoke with the management last week at a press conference and they were pretty dismissive on the matter of the head cracks. They were unable to find a common link between the four and they were a while back now so I think they are watching for number 5 and assuming that the others were just a glitch.
The new EC135T3 displayed at the Heli-Expo shows that not a great deal has changed with the new airframe. Inside they have revised the ergonomics up to preferred modern standards but if you did not fit in the back seat before you still will not. Police role fits in the Uk use up a lot of 'boot space' and that area is no larger either so other than the kit getting smaller there is no gain beyond an ability to carry it conferred by the engine and rotor boost.
There was some talk about external/conformal fuel tanks but that is it seems no more than EC asking the customers whether they want them. The plan, as far as it goes is to bulge the top step in a similar manner to that exhibited on the Heli-Expo aircraft for housing the emergency floatation gear.
Older ppruners may recall the Conformal fuel tanks on the first Devon & Cornwall BK117C1 G-DCPA - they never made it past the launch photo-shoot as it was found that the police role fit with nose mounted camera shifted the C of G far too forwards. They sold them off to someone without a sensor pod. So it looks like this may be a HEMS or utility option if it ever happens.
As for the threat to the 135 from newer types that may be an illusion. The 145 may be threatened by the AW169 but not the 135. The old threats are the best! There are no plans to replace the 109 just yet so if you did not like it before you will not like it now.
Which leaves the 902 and the 429. The former is now relaunched by a very robust Lynn Tilton but her new baby and its new avionics from Universal are not expected before 2015 and the latter remains in the hands of arguments between Bell and the FAA/EASA over raising limits. Many voiced an opinion that it is only a matter of time before the certification authorities give in.....
Meanwhile the 135 continues to sell. A generally held opinion is that the 135 itself is too big for the task of police patrol and observation. The perfect type for the task is the AS350 ..... Now that is another argument.
Last edited by PANews; 10th March 2013 at 22:39.