All Nippon Helicopters' H160 completes first flight

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA / Image : Airbus

According to Airbus, the Airbus H160 helicopter purchased by All Nippon Helicopters (ANH) recently completed its first flight test at Marseille Provence Airport, with a flight time of 95 minutes. This successful first flight paved the way for the H160 helicopter to be put into operation in Japan. The ANH fleet currently has 6 Airbus AS365 helicopters and 5 Airbus H135 helicopters, collecting electronic news for TV stations across Japan. The H160 helicopter will replace one of the AS365 helicopters in its fleet. "We are very pleased to see Japan's first H160 helicopter successfully fly for the first time. We look forward to this next-generation helicopter to play an important role in our national mission." said Jun Yanagawa, President of ANH. "Since thirty years the introduction of the AS365 helicopter, the market demand for electronic news gathering has continued to develop and has increased significantly. This state-of-the-art H160 helicopter is at the right time for our operations." The H160 helicopter was certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in July 2020 and is expected to be certified by the Japan Aviation Administration in early 2021. After the helicopter is delivered, the installation and customization of special equipment will be completed at the Kobe Plant of Airbus Helicopters before it is put into operation. "We are honored that ANH has become the launch user of our H160 helicopter in Japan and participated in their fleet renewal. This successful first flight is of special significance to the industry during this unprecedented period. Thank you to our customers and team for achieving this. One achievement is the best effort. We will continue to provide maximum support and ensure smooth delivery to ANH." said Guillaume Leprince, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters Japan. Japan's electronic news gathering market is a mature market. There are currently 87 helicopters dedicated to such missions. Nearly 70% of them are manufactured by Airbus. Operators usually use H125, AS365, H135, and H155 helicopter platforms. As the H160 is about to join the ranks, this helicopter equipped with Helionix pilot-assisted safety features will bring greater influence to operators. The H160 helicopter integrates the latest innovative technology of Airbus Helicopters. It is a multi-purpose helicopter that can meet the needs of multiple missions such as offshore transportation, emergency medical services, private and business aviation, and public services. Thanks to the noise-reducing blue leading edge blades, the H160 helicopter provides passengers with extraordinary comfort. At the same time, its excellent outside vision provides convenience for both passengers and pilots.