Eurocopter EC130

EC130 Ecureuil
EC130 B4 in flight, January 2005
Role	Light utility
National origin	France
Manufacturer	Eurocopter/Airbus Helicopters
First flight	24 June 1999
Introduction	2001
Unit cost	~US$3.6M, €2.7M
Developed from	Eurocopter AS350

The Eurocopter EC130 is a single engine light helicopter developed from the earlier AS350 Ecureuil, one of the primary changes from which was the adoption of a fenestron anti-torque device in place of a conventional tail rotor. It was launched and produced by the Eurocopter Group, which would later be rebranded as Airbus Helicopters.

Development

During the 1990s, the EC130 was developed by Eurocopter from their AS350 B3 helicopter, a popular rotorcraft originally developed and manufactured by French firm Aerospatiale, which had merged into the multinational Eurocopter organisation. Major changes from the proceeding AS350 included the adoption of an enclosed Fenestron anti-torque device and a wide body to provide for a cabin with much more internal space. On 24 June 1999, the first prototype EC130 performed its first flight, being flown from an airfield in France by Steven Page, an Australian test pilot.^[1]

The EC130 was designed in close cooperation with tour operators, one such operator, Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, being the launch operator; it has been described as having a spacious cabin for accommodating up to seven tourists and providing excellent external visibility. In 2001, the EC130 entered service with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, being used for aerial tours of scenic areas such as Hawaii and the Grand Canyon.^[1] Vertical Magazine described the EC130 as being "one of the most highly successful single engine helicopters in air medical service".^[2]

In February 2008, it was announced that aerial tour operator Maverick Helicopters' fleet of 28 EC130s, the largest single operator in the world, had accumulated a combined total of 60,000 flight hours.^[3] By March 2015, Maverick's fleet was officially recognised as having attained 300,000 flying hours.^[4] Maverick also served as the launch customer for the improved EC130T2.^[5]

An upgraded variant, the EC130T2, was developed in the 2000s to improve upon the base model's performance; more than 70% of the airframe was changed from the initial EC130 model and the more Turbomeca Arriel 2D turboshaft engine was adopted. In 2012, Eurocopter received orders for 50 EC130T2 from Maverick Helicopters, and other customers such as Papillon and Blue Hawaiian took the total then on order for the new variant to 105.^[6][1] The EC130T2 was introduced to service in 2012.^[2] In 2013, Airbus Helicopters reported that a production rate of 50 EC130T2s would be produced that year, and that this was expected to rise to 65 per year in 2014.^[7]

Design

The EC130 is a single engine helicopter. It uses a automatically-varying three-bladed Starflex main rotor which is matched to an enclosed tail fan anti-torque device, known as a Fenestron, the latter feature replacing the traditional tail rotor found on the older AS350. The Fenestron has unevenly spaced blades to reduce noise generation by 50% compared to a tail rotor; this enabled an FAA Appendix H fly-over noise signature of 84.3 EPNdB, 8.5 dB below stage two limits.^[1] The EC130 uses the Turbomeca Arriel 2D turboshaft engine; the performance of this powerplant has led to the type having been described as possessing "better power margins and range than competing models, particularly in hot and high conditions".^[2] The EC130T2's enhanced Arriel engine is equipped with Full Authority Digital Engine Controls; a dual hydraulic system derived from the Eurocopter AS355 was also adopted.^[7]

The EC130T2 is equipped with active anti-vibration control systems, comprising five accelerometers and four linear actuators, to produce smooth flight conditions and improved comfort for passengers onboard; air conditions is a common optional item on this model as well.^[7] The EC130 was designed with various safety features, including flight data recorders, crash-worthy seats, and redundant flight systems for greater reliability; the EC130T2 had further safety features installed.^[2] Vertical Magazine described the cockpit instrumentation as being "straightforward" and the control response as "tight and pleasant".^[7] Typically the cockpit is configured for single pilot operations, the pilot being seated on the left-hand side of the forward cabin; dual controls can be optionally installed.^[7] The EC130 is capable of flight under both day and night conditions.^[7]

It has the largest cabin of any single engine helicopter in its class, with reportedly 54% greater unobstructed space and 143% more baggage space than the competing Bell 407.^[2] On the EC130, there are three prime seating configurations; a standard layout with a single pilot and six passengers, a similar arrangement with the two central seats facing aft, and a high density layout with three front passengers seats in line with the pilot.^[7] In the emergency medical services (EMS) role, various interior configurations have been developed for the type; optional equipment includes customised mounting points for medical equipment, air compressors and liquid oxygen tanks, and United Rotorcraft’s Lowered Patient Loading System (LPLS).^[2] The EC130 has been popular with Air medical services (AMS) operators due to its large cabin being capable of accommodating up to two stretchers and two attendees, as well as a baggage area for storing equipment, wide side doors for access, and its enclosed Fenestron tail for safety^[1][7]

Variants

EC130 B4

Initial launch model of the type.

EC130T2

Upgraded variant of the EC130 B4; features redesigned airframe, more powerful engines (Turbomecca Ariel 2D), and increased performance.

Operators

 Brazil

• Paraná State Police^[8]

 Canada

• Ontario Ministry Of Natural Resources^[9]
• Edmonton Police Service^[10]

 Monaco

• Heli Air Monaco^[11]

 France

• Heli Securite^[12]

 Netherlands

• Heli Holland^[13]

 Sri Lanka

• Daya Aviation^[14][15]

 United States

• Blue Hawaiian Helicopters ^[16]
• Broward County Sheriff's Office^[17]
• Long Beach Police Department^[18]

Specifications (EC130 B4)

External video

Official EC130 demonstration tour video

Cockpit view of an EC130 landing on at sea

Data from {Eurocopter EC130 B4 2008 tech data book}

General characteristics

• Crew: 1 (pilot in left seat)
• Capacity: 6 passengers (2 at front and four at back) can be modified to take 7 passengers (3 at front and four at back)
• Length: 10.68 m (35 ft)
• Rotor diameter: 10.69 m (35 ft 1in)
• Height: 3.34 m (10 ft 11 in)
• Empty weight: 1,377 kg (3,036 lbs)
• Useful load: 1,050 kg (2,315 lbs)
• Max. takeoff weight: 2,427 kg (5,351 lbs)
• Powerplant: 1 × Turbomeca Arriel 2B1 turboshaft, 632 kW (847 shp)

Performance

• Never exceed speed: 287 km/h (155 knots, 178 mph)
• Cruise speed: 240 km/h (130 knots, 150 mph)
• Range: 610 km (329 nm, 378 mi)
• Service ceiling: : 4,770 m (15,655 ft)
• Rate of climb: 9.0 m/s (1,770 ft/min)

Avionics
Vehicle and Engine Multifunction Display (VEMD) with First Limit Indicator (FLI) fitted as standard.

See also

Related development

• Eurocopter AS350
• Eurocopter AS355
• Eurocopter Fennec

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Bell 407
• MD Helicopters MD 600
• AgustaWestland AW119
• Marenco SKYe SH09

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Airbus Helicopters EC130 Ecureuil.

• Eurocopter EC130 Ecureuil page
• EASA Type Certificate R.008 AS350/EC130
• The ECOSTAR: A new era in Helicopter Tourism

Eurocopter/Airbus Helicopters aircraft Civil helicopters BK 117 EC120 (H120) EC130 (H130) EC135 (H135) EC145 (H145) EC155 (H155) H160 EC175 (H175) EC225 (H225) AS332 AS350 (H125) AS355 SA/AS365 Military helicopters AS532 AS550 (H125M)/AS555 AS565 EC635 (H135M) EC645 (H145M) EC665 EC725 (H225M) HH/MH-65 NH90 UH-72 Experimental helicopters X3

Lists relating to aviation General Aircraft manufacturers Aircraft engines manufacturers Airlines Defunct airlines Helicopter airlines Airports Aerobatic teams Civil authorities Gliders Museums Navigation and Transport Acts Registration prefixes Rotorcraft manufacturers Timeline Military Air forces Experimental Missiles Unmanned Weapons Accidents / incidents Commercial airliners by location Fatalities by death toll General aviation Military By registration Records Airspeed Altitude Distance Endurance Firsts Large Most-produced aircraft Most-produced rotorcraft Misc. List of jet airliners