HeliHub.com Airbus takes H225 to Helitech
Airbus takes H225 to Helitech
Airbus takes H225 to Helitech 2 Oct, 17, Source: HeliHub.com
Airbus Helicopters have brought an H225 to the Helitech International show which starts tomorrow at the ExCeL exhibition centre close to London City Airport. The helicopter touched down around 11.15L this morning. In an attempt to improve the
PR surrounding the helicopter type, Airbus has brought an example which they have had stored at the factory at Marignane for a number of months. HeliHub.com owner Jeremy Parkin saw the aircraft there on a factory visit in February 2017, and we understand it is one of four unallocated “white tail” airframes owned by leasing company Milestone. All four of these aircraft are on the German civil aircraft register.
While the H225 as a type has had its approval to fly restored by EASA, the outcome of the April 2016 accident to a CHC aircraft in Norway has not yet been announced by AIBN, the Accident Investigation Board Norway. Once the results of that process have been published, and any further modifications set in place resulting from that document, it will then be an elongated process for the operators, oil exploration companies and oil worker unions to reach an agreement for the type to be flying once again. Some oil companies, notably StatOil, have already stated that they will not allow their staff to fly in an H225 in the future.
HeliHub.com research suggests that 140 H225s are currently stored, including lease hand-backs. 21 of these are owned by leasing company Parilease, part of French bank BNP Paribas. These are, in turn, being marketed by Avinco, previously thought to be an independent company but recently revealed as a company “in the control of Airbus”.