We’ve seen temperatures drop below -30°C in Finland and -40°C in Scandinavia, providing the perfect backdrop to push the aircraft’s stability and handling qualities.
Hard work, but there’s no better team-building than operating a prototype in the Arctic and our H140 handled the conditions exactly as expected.
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INFO
Just over a year after its launch at Verticon 2025, whether in realms of commercialisation, certification, or new missions, the H140 continues its impressive progress. Head of the H135 and H140 Programme, Dirk Petry, gives an update on everything H140.
Flight testing is well underway for the H140. How is the campaign towards certification progressing?
Dirk Petry: Our flight tests are running exactly according to plan. We currently have a fleet of three prototypes dedicated to our flight campaigns, with the third prototype (PT3) having completed its first flight late last year. Earlier this year, PT2 was in Finland and Norway for the certification campaign. In Finland, we pushed the H140 to its limits in extreme cold conditions down to -40°C, while in Norway, we were focused on engine air intake tests under heavy snow conditions. It was a very emotional moment for the entire team to see all three prototypes in the air in late December. We have now surpassed a significant number of flight hours, and this progress is a testament to our great, competent and ambitious team. Helicopter development is incredibly complex, and following our schedule so closely is a major success. Looking ahead, PT2 will travel to the US this summer for high and hot testing. 2026 will truly be the year of testing,’ not just for the prototypes but also across our labs for component and functional verification.
It has been over a year since the H140 was unveiled at Verticon 2025. How successful was the helicopter’s initial launch?
Dirk Petry: Verticon 2025 was a massive success for us. We gathered more than 74 commitments just during the show, and in recent months, we’ve been successfully converting those into firm bookings. At the end of 2025, we were at over 100 total commitments, 61 of which are firm contracts. This makes the H140 the most successful light twin-engine helicopter currently on the market. While our initial success has been heavily concentrated in the emergency medical services (EMS) segment, we are now beginning to address further market sectors. We have already recorded our first bookings for the passenger transport and utility segment, which marks the start of our expansion into new markets. We are firmly on track for the first entry into service in 2028.
What are the next strategic steps for the programme in terms of design and production?
Dirk Petry: We are entering a very exciting phase. At this year’s Verticon, we unveiled the ACH140 with a full-scale cabin mockup featuring the new ACH Line interior. This concept is being developed internally in close collaboration with Airbus Helicopters Italy colleagues and cutting-edge suppliers who are pioneering innovative and sustainable materials and designs. The H140 is a true multipurpose helicopter; following the EMS and private and business aviation markets, we will tackle the law enforcement and offshore energy segments. On the industrial side, everything is in full swing. We are introducing a fourth prototype (PT4) which is being built in a serial production environment. It is currently in the major component assembly (MCA) stage, will move to the final assembly line (FAL) shortly, and is expected to take off for the first time this coming winter. Furthermore, industrial production of the first serial helicopters has started. This fifth H140 will be operated by Airbus Helicopters to support certification of optional equipment, and I am proud to say that the first customer aircraft is also entering production as we speak.
MORE INFO
Introducing the all new Airbus H140, a 3-tonne multi-mission helicopter that complements Airbus Helicopters' current light twin portfolio for the emergency medical services, passenger transport, and private and business aviation markets.
The Airbus H140 features a wide range of innovations, including a new T-shaped tail boom with an optimised Fenestron that reduces sound levels, a five-blade bearingless main rotor, and new powerful engines.
It is powered by the Safran Arrius 2E 700 engine, offering the best payload-range in its class. The two engines of the helicopter are managed by a dual-channel full-authority digital engine control system, guaranteeing unprecedented levels of performance in all engines operative operations and considerable power reserves in one engine inoperative scenarios.
The helicopter also features a larger cabin space, large windows and optimised cabin layout that can accommodate up to six passengers comfortably. Designed with accessibility in mind, thanks to the large clamshell doors and the high tail boom, the H140’s rear loading capabilities allow the use of different types of stretcher systems including intensive care ones and transport incubators while its large sliding doors facilitate access to the cabin.
Sitting between the H135 and H145 models, the H140 unveiled at the recent Verticon show will deliver more performance in terms of payload and speed. Its larger cabin is expected to be especially useful for applications such as emergency medical flights for which medics need equipment to treat patients during flights. Highlights include a five-blade rotor system, and a T-tail.
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- I was just about to buy an old Honda civic to get around, but after seeing the Airbus H140 I’ve changed my mind. I’ve always been a helicopter guy anyways!- This is gonna be an amazing air ambulance I’m from Canada and we don’t have many Fenestron Airbus choppers Only in Niagara Falls they use them for tours around the Falls
- I don’t know where the market fit for this was. Obviously there must be one since they released this model, but I would actually want something in between the H145 and H160. Larger internal volume and gross weight than H145 is capable of. Call it the H150.
- As a medical student who has worked in the EMT, there is a real need. The full team is made up of 4 people including the driver. In h135 it can board only 2people and the patient this is inconvenient and not optimized. The need is only 1 seat more not enough to buy a much bigger h145. This helicopter looks perfectly fit for this need. Good job airbus.
- Nice!! taller than an H135 in the rear, Shorter in length than an145, Nice in-between variant!! Just hope the exhaust doesn't hit ya in the face when loading a patient!! Cant wait to get a scale RC Model going of this!!!!
- I belive that's to compensate with the Translating Tendecy as it would bring the horizontal thrust from the tail rotor near to the main rotor torque plane. I am not sure maybe would be an elevator like a bell 47, which does move not like a fixed stabilizer.
- It's an updated EC135, but will likely cost more than the current H145. And the price won't reflect what missions it can do. Existing airframes can do the same job at 1/4th the cost. Including the EC135.
Correct. It’s a evolved 135. Must be, as the cabin design is definitely not 30G Crash resistent which is mandatory since the 90ˋs with the MDexplorer being the only light twin fulfilling that requirement until today. Also all other „post 1990“ designed helicopters have no „open space“ cabins, as AW169, AH160 etc etc.
Even the AH145D3 with its „open space“ cabin design is only possible as it is based on the BK117 certification and therefore still is titled BK117D3 in the pilots license.
Let’s see what it will be here.
But: for a 5 bladed it’s way too loud as shown in the videos available. Must be these „blade socks“ …
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