Helicopter Travel Munich (HTM) in Germany is the first operator to receive an Airbus Helicopters H135 configured for offshore hoisting duties. The helicopter will be stationed at Emden and other bases and will be used along the east Frisian coast for the maintenance of offshore wind parks.

Previously known as the EC135 T3, the enhanced aircraft performs well in one engine inoperative (OEI) conditions. It is equipped with a rescue hoist, an external life raft system, helicopter emergency egress lighting, an automatically deployable emergency locator transmitter, three-axis autopilot, weather radar, an underwater locator beacon and an emergency floatation system certified for Sea State 6.

HTM has contracts with ten windfarms and customers such as DONG, EWE, E.ON, Siemens, DOTI, Adwen and Senvion. Its Airbus Helicopters fleet already includes five EC135 P2+ based along the North Sea coastline, with the company's fleet growing to as many as 11 H135 family aircraft by early 2016. Its total fleet consists of 21 helicopters and four business jets and includes the EC145, EC120, AS350, AS355 and BK-117 types.

“We look forward to the H135 joining our inventory. With its increased OEI performance and the additional features, it is the perfect complement to our existing fleet which already complies with future offshore requirements,” says md Bernd Brucherseifer. “The EC135 fleet has proven its reliability and safety with a perfect availability static in offshore operation since 2009, having flown more than 6,000 hours with over 25,000 hoist cycles.”