Three years ago, the H145 was a leader in light twin-engine helicopter sales. In Chile, there is only one aircraft of this type to date, and it belongs to Ecocopter, the first national firm to incorporate the aircraft. The Chilean company has now added a second helicopter to consolidate its fleet in this part of the continent.

Due to its safety and power characteristics at high altitude, the H145 became the first new generation twin-engine helicopter used for the utility market in Chile, especially in the mining sector, where today it accounts for 95 per cent of its operation. This new H145 from Brazil has accumulated roughly 1,400 flight hours, so before starting its operations, scheduled maintenance will be performed. It will then begin its certification process with the DGAC, and crews will be trained in order to have it operational in the last quarter of the year.

The H145 is versatile and has great performance at high altitudes, allowing high-tonnage precision loads. Its four-bladed main rotor has a low acoustic level, and it is optimal for missions of all kinds, especially in hostile environments and congested areas, such as large cities. In Chile, it will provide services for industrial, passenger and air cargo transportation jobs.

“We are proud to introduce the H145 in Chile, where we have established ourselves in highly complex services, incorporating new technologies every year,” comments Ecocopter commercial manager Francisco Arriagada. “Today we are incorporating a new aircraft of this type to our fleet, the second to fly in the country and belonging to Ecocopter. With this, our company maintains its leadership in the helicopter industry with an eye towards safety, innovation and efficiency that we make available to our clients.”

Another advantage of the H145 is its ability to be quickly reconfigured for other missions, such as emergency medical transport. It features a spacious cabin, flat floor and the ease of loading offered by the sliding side doors and double tailgate.

The type offers technology, safety and performance; autonomy of two hours 39 minutes, as well as a cruising speed of 134 kts.