Canadian operator STARS has selected the Airbus Helicopters H145 to replace its ageing air ambulance fleet. The arriving aircraft will be the first HEMS-configured H145s in the country. The model was chosen thanks to the exceptional HEMS heritage and safety record achieved by its BK117 and EC145 predecessors, as well as its large cabin and sizeable payload.

“The impressive new H145 fleet is a generational investment in our future, helping us to continue providing critical care services,” says STARS president and CEO Andrea Robertson. “A unified fleet is considered best practice in terms of safety, fleet management, dispatch flexibility, and cost-effectiveness.”

The first tranche of H145s will be delivered in 2019 and will be based at STARS' Calgary, Alberta base.

“STARS air ambulance has set a fantastic record and example for HEMS operations, not only in western Canada but across the country,” adds president of Airbus Helicopters Canada Romain Trapp. “We thank STARS for entrusting us and the H145 to support its life-saving operations and we look forward to accompanying the team on its journey to serve patients in western Canada for generations to come.”

Airbus' H145 is Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) certified and is the latest member of its four-tonne twin-engine rotorcraft product range. To date, the global H145 fleet has achieved more than 100,000 flight hours since entry into service in 2015, with more than 200 units delivered.

The helicopter is easily customised for intensive care transport, due to its wide side sliding doors and large rear clamshell doors. Its low external sound levels enable neighbourhood-friendly operations around hospitals and in urban areas.