Writer

Cristofer Slotoroff

Airbus Helicopters opened the Farnborough International Airshow with a pair of helicopter orders on Monday, as Saudi Arabia’s The Helicopter Company (THC) signed for eight additional H145s and the UK’s National Police Air Service (NPAS) placed an order for two more H135s.
The THC order, signed by CEO Capt. Arnaud Martinez and Airbus Helicopters CEO Matthieu Louvot, added to the growing fleet that Louvot recounted—“25 H125s, 11 H160s, and 39 H145s for the THC Group, and today, eight more 145s.” Louvot expected the new aircraft “to be delivered very fast,” in 2027 and 2028.&nbsp;
Martinez declined to assign the helicopters to a specific mission, highlighting instead the flexibility and especially the “agility” provided by THC’s framework agreements with Airbus. “We know that we will have additional aircraft for additional segments. We cannot anticipate all the time by when, and on which segment, specifically,” Martinez explained.
“That is why we are looking for special, multi-mission aircraft with specs that give us—until the last minute—the agility to decide if we turn left or if we turn right.” Martinez cited both medical services and tourism as deployment possibilities for the new helicopters, but cautioned that plans can change. “This is why we need the agility,” he said. “It’s not linked to the geopolitical situation. It’s linked to the Saudi vision.”
Louvot, who took over as Airbus Helicopters CEO on April 1, noted the H145 fleet worldwide has reached 1,800 units in service and 8.6 million flight hours. A Public Investment Fund initiative, THC began operations in 2019 and has since grown into a significant helicopter operator in the region.
Separately, the NPAS order for two H135s brings its fleet renewal program to nine H135s under a 2025 framework contract with procurement agency BlueLight Commercial, making Airbus the exclusive helicopter supplier to NPAS for up to six years. The first two aircraft arrived at Airbus Helicopters’ UK operation in April for policing customization. From there, the helicopters will move to Airbus’ Oxford site in 2028 before completion to NPAS configuration. Both are equipped with Helionix avionics new to NPAS pilots, who have started familiarization flights and training.
NPAS operates 16 H135s and four H145s from 14 locations on behalf of the 43 police forces in England and Wales. “Together with our partners, we are building a fleet that will serve policing and the public for many years to come,” said chief superintendent Fiona Gaffney, NPAS accountable manager.

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