Germany-based rotary operator HTM Helicopters has placed an order for one Airbus H145, with options for two additional helicopters of the same type. The new helicopter will be used in offshore wind operations, transporting technicians and materials to wind farm turbines off the coasts of Germany and France.

"Over the past 15 years in the offshore wind business, we've seen projects move further out from the coast and require additional payload, which has led us to add additional H145s to our fleet," says HTM managing director Bernd Brucherseifer. "In addition to excellent OEI performance, the helicopter offers the chance to quickly perform role changes for various customer missions and is very reliable and easy to maintain. The H145 is the perfect tool for the operation and maintenance phase in offshore wind operations, and we will see a lot more demand for it in this market in the near future."

"The H145 is ideally suited for offshore wind operations due to the significant capacity it offers for transporting passengers and cargo, as well as its outstanding hover performance for hoisting operations," adds Axel Humpert, senior vice president and head of the H145 programme at Airbus. "As our long-standing partner, we're pleased HTM has seen the value that the H145 provides and continued to place its trust in our helicopters as it expands its fleet."

HTM was the first operator to take delivery of a five-bladed H145 to be used for offshore wind operations in 2021. In late 2023, HTM's aircraft was used in a world-premiere trial led by Airbus to hoist two crew members into the nacelles of floating wind turbines in Hywind Tampen.

This order will add to HTM's current fleet, which features 18 Airbus Helicopters, including a mix of H125s, H135s and H145s in use to support a variety of missions. With the delivery of the newly ordered helicopter, HTM's total H145 fleet will grow to eight helicopters, 10 including options. Five of those H145s (seven including options) will be used to support offshore missions.