Airbus Helicopters AS365, EC130, and H130 series

Neelam Mathews

With one H130 already in operation, India’s Heritage Aviation, predominantly an Airbus H125 operator, signed a contract for a new H130 at Wings India on January 30, with delivery scheduled for September.
The wider cabin, lower noise profile, and Fenestron tail rotor of the H130 position Heritage to offer a premium passenger experience, according to Rohit Mathur, founder and CEO of Heritage Aviation. “The new H130 will help expand our regional connectivity footprint, including Northeast India, which remains largely untapped for private helicopter operations.”
India’s H130 fleet remains small and concentrated among a few charter operators. Global Vectra Helicorp has a few EC130T2/H130s for VIP and tourism missions, while Chipsan Aviation also deploys the type in higher‑end charter operations. A handful of privately owned and charter H130s round out the market, placing the national fleet at roughly six to eight aircraft.
Heritage Aviation is one of India’s largest private helicopter operators, with an estimated 10 Airbus H125 AStars used to fly pilgrims to tiny towns tucked in the Himalayas at 3,590 meters (11,800 feet), where reliability and climb performance are critical. The fleet is built primarily around pilgrimage, charter, and aerial‑work operations.
India’s first private‑sector H125 final assembly line in Karnataka, operated by Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems, will assemble, test, and deliver the first India‑built H125 in early 2027.

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Heritage Aviation Ramps Up Light Helicopter Capability

Airbus H125 operator orders a new H130 at Wings India

India’s Heritage Aviation signed a contract for a new H130 at Wings India.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charlotte Bailey

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Pentagon permission facilitates sale of Bell 412EXP and 407M

U.S. Approves $800M Bell 407/412 Sale to Iraq Military

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Fire and disaster management agency to use aircraft in aerial reconnaissance role

Japan Orders Its First H160 for Emergency Response

Flights with two scaled technology demonstrators will inform potential future iterations 

Singaporean eVTOL Conducts Test Campaign In Germany 

Matt Thurber

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Singapore Airshow 2026

In this article

AS365/EC130/H130

Airbus Helicopters

More In Rotorcraft

U.S. Approves $800M Bell 407/412 Sale to Iraq Military

Pentagon permission facilitates sale of Bell 412EXP and 407M

Japan Orders Its First H160 for Emergency Response

Fire and disaster management agency to use aircraft in aerial reconnaissance role

Singaporean eVTOL Conducts Test Campaign In Germany

Flights with two scaled technology demonstrators will inform potential future iterations

FAA Approves TSO for ASU Panoramic Night-vision Goggles

Lightweight white-phosphor NVG have a 94-degree field of view

FAA Floats Special Conditions for Skyryse Fly-by-wire R66

Proposed rule addresses pilot awareness of control limits

Vertical Lift Groups Extend Trade Show Partnership

European Helicopter Association and Vertical Aviation International extended their alliance

Sikorsky Is Upgrading the Black Hawk Helicopter for Evolving Military Needs

Armed forces will be able to outfit Black Hawks with new armament and equipment.

Sikorsky’s S-97 Raider Points to a New Level of Performance for Future Helicopters

Originally developed for the U.S. military, X2 technology is in search of a new customer.

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN