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EC225 Super Puma
Bristow Helicopters - Eurocopter EC-225LP
A Bristow Helicopters EC225LP at Aberdeen Airport.
Role Passenger Transport Helicopter
Manufacturer Eurocopter Group
First flight 27 November 2000
Introduction December 2004
Number built 100 (2011)[1]
Developed from Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma
Variants Eurocopter EC 725 Super Cougar

The Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma Mk II+ is a long-range passenger transport helicopter developed by Eurocopter as the next generation in the civilian Super Puma family. It is a twin-engined aircraft and can carry up to 24 passengers along with 2 crew and a cabin attendant, dependent on customer configuration. The helicopter is marketed for offshore support and VIP passenger transport duties, as well as public service missions.

Development[]

The EC225 development was announced by Eurocopter in June 1998, with the first prototype performing its maiden flight on 27 November 2000. It received safety certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency in July 2004.

Design[]

The EC225 is based on the Eurocopter AS332L2 Super Puma, improving upon the design with a five-blade main rotor incorporating a new airfoil shape to reduce vibration levels. The helicopter is powered by two Turbomeca Makila 2A1 turboshaft engines mounted over the cabin, which feature a dual-channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system and anti-icing system to enable it to operate in very cold climates. Other improvements include a reinforced main rotor gearbox and a full glass cockpit with Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Displays.

There are currently 4 configurations designed by Eurocopter for the EC225. The passenger transport version has seating arrangements for 19 passengers with a high-density seating arrangement accommodating up to 24 passengers. The VIP transport version has a large VIP lounge with seating for 8 passengers and a cabin attendant. The Emergency Medical Service (EMS) configuration has medical units for 6 stretchers and 4 seats for medical workers. Finally, the SAR configuration allows for Search & Rescue equipment with an operator seat, hoistman seat and up to 8 rescue seats and 3 stretchers.

Operational history[]

Algeria became the first country to use the EC225 when the Algerian Ministerial Air Liaisons Group (GLAM) received one in December 2004 for VIP transport duties.

Variants[]

EC225 LP
An improved variant of the AS332 L2.
EC225 Firefighting/SAR
EC225 with water bombing kits, FLIR, and all-weather radar for search, rescue, and firefighting operations.[2]

Operators[]

EC225 Cuerpo Nacional de Policia

A National Police Corps of Spain EC225LP at Getafe Air Base.

Flag of Algeria Algeria
  • Ministerial Air Liaisons Group[3]
Flag of Canada Canada
  • CHC Helicopter[4]
Flag of the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China
  • Ministry of Transport[5]
  • Citic Offshore Helicopter Co. [6]
  • Guangdong Public Security Bureau [7]
Flag of France France
Flag of Greenland Greenland
  • Air Greenland (2 on order) [9]
Flag of Japan Japan
Flag of Malaysia Malaysia
Flag of Norway Norway
Flag of the Republic of China Republic of China (Taiwan)
Flag of Spain Spain
  • National Police Corps of Spain[15]
  • Spanish Maritime Safety Agency[16]
Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
  • Bond Offshore Helicopters[17]
  • Bristow Helicopters[18]
Flag of Vietnam Vietnam

Competitions[]

Flag of Norway Norway
Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
  • The EC225 was also competing with Sikorsky S-92 to become the future UK Search and Rescue — Helicopter (SAR-H Programme)[24]

Notable accidents and incidents[]

  • 18 February 2009. G-REDU, an EC225 LP operated by Bond Offshore Helicopters. During a night visual approach to the ETAP platform, the helicopter descended and impacted the surface of the sea. The crew’s perception of the position and orientation of the helicopter relative to the platform during the final approach was erroneous. All 18 people onboard survived the controlled flight into terrain (water).[25]
  • 22 October 2012. G-CHCN an EC225 LP of CHC Scotia ditched in the north sea 32 miles south west of Shetland whilst en route from Aberdeen to the West Phoenix drilling rig. All 19 on board were rescued. A special bulletin issued by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said the main and standby oil pumps were not working. The AAIB bulletin said a 360 degree crack was found on the bevel gear vertical shaft of the helicopter. This crack prevented the oil pump gears from being driven.

Following the 22 October crash, which initial investigation indicated was the result of a gearbox failure, the major North Sea Super Puma operators, CHC Helicopter, Bond Offshore Helicopters and Bristow Helicopters decided to ground all AS 332 and EC225 Super Puma helicopters.

In both incidents although the main gearbox lubrication system had failed, the backup system was working correctly but displaying an erroneous warning light which lead to the pilots ditching their helicopters. This was due to an incorrect specification of a pressure switch.[26]

On 25 October 2012 it was announced that the problem was suspected to relate to the main gearbox vertical shaft. The AS 332 L1 and L2 versions of the Super Puma can be refitted with an older design, allowing them to resume flying. On 8 November 2012 some Super Pumas of Bond Offshore Helicopters began to fly again.[27][28][29]

Specifications (EC 225)[]

EC 225 Line Drawing

Data from {Eurocopter.com}[30]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2 (commander + co-pilot)
  • Capacity: 19 passengers + 1 cabin attendant
  • Length: 19.5 m (64 ft 0 in)
  • Height: 4.97 m (16 ft 4 in)
  • Empty weight: 5,256 kg (11,587 lb)
  • Gross weight: 11,000 kg (24,251 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 11,200 kg (24,692 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Turbomeca Makila 2A1 turboshaft engines, 1,776 kW (2,382 hp) each
  • Main rotor diameter: 16.2 m (53 ft 2 in)
  • Main rotor area: 206.15 m2 (2,219.0 sq ft)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 275.5 km/h (171 mph; 149 kn)
  • Cruising speed: 260.5 km/h (162 mph; 141 kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 324 km/h (201 mph; 175 kn)
  • Range: 857 km (533 mi; 463 nmi)
  • Ferry range: 985 km (612 mi; 532 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 5,900 m (19,357 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 8.7 m/s (1,710 ft/min)

See also[]

References[]

  1. Eurocopter delivers the 100th EC225 to Bristow Group, 07-12-2011
  2. - EC225 firefighting variant
  3. "DELIVERY OF THE FIRST EC 225 TO THE MINISTERIAL AIR LIAISONS GROUP OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALGERIA". eurocopter.com. http://www.eurocopter.com/site/en/press/DELIVERY-OF-THE-FIRST-EC-225-TO-THE-MINISTERIAL-AIR-LIAISONS-GROUP-OF-THE-REPUBLIC-OF-ALGERIA_288.html. Retrieved 20-March-2013. 
  4. "CHC Helicopter fleet". chc.ca. http://www.chc.ca/AboutCHC/Fleet/Pages/default.aspx. Retrieved 20-March-2013. 
  5. "Eurocopter delivers fourth EC225 to China for offshore SAR". helihub.com. http://helihub.com/2011/08/07/eurocopter-delivers-fourth-ec225-to-china-for-offshore-sar/. Retrieved 20-March-2013. 
  6. "Eurocopter and COHC sign a Contract for the Supply of long range EC225 Helicopters". eurocopter.com. http://www.eurocopter.com/site/FO/scripts/myFO_publication.php?news_id=415&lang=EN. Retrieved 20-March-2013. 
  7. "Guangdong Public Security Bureau will have the world "most advanced" helicopter". informationtimes.dayoo. http://informationtimes.dayoo.com/html/2009-05/18/content_571697.htm. Retrieved 20-March-2013. 
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 "World Air Forces 2013". Flightglobal Insight. 2013. http://www.flightglobal.com/airspace/media/reports_pdf/emptys/101015/world-air-forces-2013.pdf. Retrieved 20 March 2013. 
  9. "Air Greenland orders two EC225 helicopters for use in all-weather missions". eurocopter.com. http://www.helis.com/database/news/ec225_airgreen/. Retrieved 20-March-2013. 
  10. "Japan Defense Agency received first EC225 in VIP configuration for the Japanese Emperor’s Royal Flight Service.". eurocopter.com. http://www.eurocopter.com/site/en/press/Japan-Defense-Agency-received-first-EC225-in-VIP-configuration-for-the-Japanese-Emperora-s-Royal-Flight-Service._385.html. Retrieved 20-March-2013. 
  11. "Eurocopter succeeds with EC 225 in open Japanese competition". eurocopter.com. http://www.eurocopter.com/site/en/press/Eurocopter-succeeds-with-EC-225-in-open-Japanese-competition_347.html. Retrieved 20-March-2013. 
  12. "Tokyo Fire Department orders second EC225". helihub.com. http://helihub.com/2012/07/17/tokyo-fire-department-orders-second-ec225-2/. Retrieved 20-March-2013. 
  13. "MHS Aviation fleet". mhsaviation.com. http://www.mhsaviation.com/fleetmore.html. Retrieved 20-March-2013. 
  14. "CHC Helikopter Fleet". chchs.no. http://www.chchs.no/:/chchs/:/Flaate.html. Retrieved 20-March-2013. 
  15. "Medios Aéreos / Historia". policia.es. http://www.policia.es/org_central/medios_aereos/historia.html. Retrieved 20-March-2013. 
  16. "Fomento adjudica a Eurocopter el súper Helimer". elcorreogallego.es. http://www.elcorreogallego.es/galicia/ecg/fomento-adjudica-eurocopter-super-helimer/idEdicion-2011-08-15/idNoticia-693512/. Retrieved 20-March-2013. 
  17. "Bond Aviation Group fleet". bondaviationgroup.com. http://www.bondaviationgroup.com/engineering/fleet. Retrieved 20-March-2013. 
  18. "Bristow Helicopters fleet". bristowgroup.com. http://www.bristowgroup.com/clients/helicopter-fleet/. Retrieved 20-March-2013. 
  19. http://vnexpress.net/GL/Kinh-doanh/2009/08/3BA124D7/
  20. "The NAWSARH Project". Royal Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police. http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/jd/kampanjer/helicopters/about-the-project.html. Retrieved 2009-06-06. 
  21. Per Erlien Dalløkken (2009-05-07). "De fem kandidatene" (in Norwegian). Teknisk Ukeblad. http://www.tu.no/motor/article208828.ece. Retrieved 2009-06-06. 
  22. "Candidates that have passed the Pre-qualification process for delivery of future SAR helicopters for Iceland and Norway". Royal Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police. http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/jd/kampanjer/helicopters/news-2/candidates-that-have-passed-the-pre-qual.html?id=673100. Retrieved 2012-02-26. 
  23. http://www.tu.no/industri/2013/07/09/to-av-de-mulige-sea-king-erstatterne-er-vraket
  24. "SAR-H bidders announce helicopter types". Shephard Group. 2009-03-11. http://www.shephard.co.uk/news/2072/sar-h-bidders-announce-helicopter-types/. Retrieved 2009-06-06. 
  25. "Report on the accident to Eurocopter EC225 LP Super Puma, G-REDU...". AAIB. http://www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/formal_reports/1_2011_g_redu.cfm. 
  26. "Incorrect specification caused EC225 emergency lube fault". Flightglobal. http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/incorrect-specification-caused-ec225-emergency-lube-fault-383682/. 
  27. Perry, Dominic (25 October 2012). "Gearbox component failure to blame for latest EC225 ditching". Flightglobal. http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/gearbox-component-failure-to-blame-for-latest-ec225-ditching-378077/. Retrieved 27 October 2012. 
  28. Learmont, David (26 October 2012). "Operators return some Super Pumas to work as EASA widens safety ruling". Flightglobal. http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/operators-return-some-super-pumas-to-work-as-easa-widens-safety-ruling-378130/. Retrieved 27 October 2012. 
  29. Step change (2012-10-27). "Q&A Fact Sheet on latest ditching incident". http://www.stepchangeinsafety.net/newsevents/news/news.cfm/newsid/76. Retrieved 2012-10-27. 
  30. "Eurocopter EC 225 Technical Data" (PDF). Archived from the original on 2006-11-10. http://web.archive.org/web/20061110083604/http://www.eurocopter.com/site/docs_wsw/fichiers_communs/docs/TD_EC225%20.pdf. Retrieved 2007-07-12. 

External links[]

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