The first of 23 EC135s which have been assigned to Poland's nationwide HEMS network will be deployed next year. "The arrival of the EC135s at our bases is part of an ongoing process to modernise our HEMS infrastructure," explains Robert Galazkowski, director of Warsaw-based Polish operator Lotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe (LPR). "We are determined to provide the Polish people with the highest-quality HEMS services and the entry into service of the EC135 is a major step forward for us."

The new EC135, scheduled to enter into service at the beginning of January, will be based in Warsaw. Five more EC135s are slated for delivery in the coming months with the remaining 17 to follow in 2010. The fleet will be spread around all 17 Polish bases and will replace the existing fleet of Mi-2s. Galazkowski says: "This will bring Poland up to date with the latest European standards."

Technical support for LPR's EC135s will be provided by the Warsaw-based Heli Invest, a Eurocopter distributor and certified maintenance centre that offers a full range of customer services, including a 24-7 hotline with Polish-speaking operators.

Galazkowski says the 23 EC135s ordered by LPR comply with the particularly stringent international safety regulations governing emergency medical services.

Before joining the European Union LPR used helicopters that were almost 30 years old - PZL Mi-2s made by PZL Swidnik and PZL M-20 Mewa, the Polish license-built version of the Piper PA-34 Seneca. But Galazkowski says: "Accessing Poland to the EU meant LPR had to became fully compliant with JAR OPS. Because of that, during 2002 to 2004, 19 Mi-2s were modernised to Mi-2 Plus standard with updated medic cabins, enhanced engines and new avionics and communication systems. But it was obvious that this type, which is not able to carry out night flights and had weak performance, must be replaced by a modern helicopter. Mi-2 Plus also had not completed the Cat III performance requirements needed."

LPR brought the A109E Power into service in July 2005 at the Warsaw-Babice base. Night flights, single pilot IFR operations, were restarted, and LPR plans to renew the fleet were announced. In September 2006 three companies bid for the contract. PZL Swidnik and AgustaWestland both offered the A109 Grand and Eurocopter EC135.

"Technical requirements prepared by the Polish Ministry of Health preferred the EC135 to the A109S Grand. One of the requirements was having skids rather than wheeled landing gear. Another obligation was having a passage from cockpit to medical cabin," Galazkowski adds.