Japanese operator All Nippon Helicopter (ANH) has taken delivery of the first H160 from Airbus Helicopters.

The multi-role helicopter was delivered from Airbus' facility in Kobe, Japan, where flight training and specialised equipment installation for electronic news gathering will be performed before its entry into service next year.

“ANH is excited to be the first in the world to receive this state-of-the-art H160 helicopter to support our electronic news gathering missions,” says president Jun Yanagawa. “The electronic news gathering industry is changing rapidly, and we are happy to have the perfect helicopter for our operations, becoming the leading workhorse in our Airbus fleet.”

ANH deploys a helicopter fleet comprising five AS365s and five H135s. This H160 will replace one of the AS365s.

The H160 was granted its type certificate by EASA in July 2020, followed by the certification from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau in May 2021 and the Brazilian Civil Aviation Agency in September 2021.

Designed as a multi-role helicopter capable of performing a wide range of missions such as offshore transportation, emergency medical services, private and business aviation as well as public services, the H160 integrates Airbus' latest technological innovations, among them sound-reducing Blue Edge blades, additional safety features from the Helionix avionics suite's accrued pilot assistance and superb external visibility.

“It is an honour to have ANH as our very first H160 operator," adds Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even. "I would like to thank ANH for its continued trust and confidence in our helicopters. I'm also very proud of the hard work and dedication of our teams in France and Japan in preparation of the aircraft delivery. I can't wait to see this next-generation helicopter flying the skies of Japan, playing a key role in the country's electronic news gathering market.”