Helis, May 12, 2026 - NAIROBI, Kenya – Airbus has marked a major milestone in its light helicopter program with the delivery of the 1,000th H130 helicopter to Kenyan operator Rotorjet Aviation. The handover highlights the continued global success of the H130 family in passenger transport, tourism, aerial work, emergency services, and corporate aviation missions.
The milestone aircraft will support Rotorjet Aviation’s expanding operations across East Africa, where demand for modern, versatile single-engine helicopters continues to grow in sectors ranging from tourism and executive charter services to utility operations and infrastructure support.
Originally introduced as the EC130, the helicopter traces its roots back to the highly successful AS350 Écureuil family developed by Airbus Helicopters’ predecessor, Aérospatiale, during the 1970s. The EC130 first flew in 1999 as a larger and quieter derivative of the AS350 B3, designed to offer enhanced passenger comfort, lower noise levels, and improved visibility through its wide panoramic cabin. Following Airbus Helicopters’ product rebranding in 2015, the EC130 became known as the H130.
The H130 was specifically developed for the intermediate single-engine helicopter market and quickly established itself as one of the most recognizable aircraft in the tourism and sightseeing sector. Its spacious cabin can accommodate up to seven passengers plus a pilot, while its Fenestron enclosed tail rotor contributes to lower external noise and improved safety during ground operations. Powered primarily by the Safran Arriel 2D engine, the aircraft combines strong hot-and-high performance with reduced operating costs, making it attractive to operators working in mountainous terrain, desert climates, and high-temperature environments.
Over the years, the H130 has evolved into a multi-role platform used far beyond tourism. Operators worldwide employ the helicopter for helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS), law enforcement patrols, offshore shuttle work, private transport, utility lifting, electronic news gathering, and pilot training. Its wide cabin and flat floor configuration have also made it popular for VIP transport and medical interiors.
Among the most prominent H130 and EC130 operators are sightseeing companies in the United States, particularly in Hawaii and the Grand Canyon region, as well as tourism and charter operators across Europe, Latin America, Australia, and Africa. The model has also seen extensive use in safari operations throughout eastern and southern Africa, where its visibility and passenger comfort are highly valued for wildlife tourism flights.
The H130 belongs to a broader Airbus single-engine helicopter lineage that includes the AS350/H125 family. While the H125 emphasizes utility, external load, and high-performance operations, the H130 focuses more heavily on passenger comfort, quietness, and premium transport capability. Together, the two aircraft families have become among the most commercially successful civil helicopters ever produced.
Airbus has continued refining the H130 platform through avionics upgrades, improved cabin features, and enhanced safety systems. The aircraft is increasingly being positioned as a lower-noise and lower-emission solution for urban mobility, tourism, and executive transportation markets, while retaining the rugged operational flexibility required in remote environments.
The delivery of the 1,000th H130 to Rotorjet Aviation underscores the aircraft’s enduring market presence more than two decades after the EC130’s first flight and reflects the continued demand for reliable single-engine helicopters capable of operating across a wide variety of civil missions worldwide.
The milestone aircraft will support Rotorjet Aviation’s expanding operations across East Africa, where demand for modern, versatile single-engine helicopters continues to grow in sectors ranging from tourism and executive charter services to utility operations and infrastructure support.
Originally introduced as the EC130, the helicopter traces its roots back to the highly successful AS350 Écureuil family developed by Airbus Helicopters’ predecessor, Aérospatiale, during the 1970s. The EC130 first flew in 1999 as a larger and quieter derivative of the AS350 B3, designed to offer enhanced passenger comfort, lower noise levels, and improved visibility through its wide panoramic cabin. Following Airbus Helicopters’ product rebranding in 2015, the EC130 became known as the H130.
Tourism and sightseeing sector
| Variant | Introduction | Main Improvements | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| AS350 B4 / EC130 | 1999 | Initial wide-cabin development derived from the AS350 B3, Fenestron tail rotor, panoramic visibility, quieter operations | Safran Arriel 2B1 |
| EC130 T2 | 2012 | Improved performance, upgraded avionics, enhanced passenger comfort, reduced fuel consumption and lower noise levels | Safran Arriel 2D |
| H130 | 2015 (renamed) | Airbus Helicopters rebranding of the EC130 T2 with continued avionics, cabin and operational refinements | Safran Arriel 2D |
The H130 was specifically developed for the intermediate single-engine helicopter market and quickly established itself as one of the most recognizable aircraft in the tourism and sightseeing sector. Its spacious cabin can accommodate up to seven passengers plus a pilot, while its Fenestron enclosed tail rotor contributes to lower external noise and improved safety during ground operations. Powered primarily by the Safran Arriel 2D engine, the aircraft combines strong hot-and-high performance with reduced operating costs, making it attractive to operators working in mountainous terrain, desert climates, and high-temperature environments.
Over the years, the H130 has evolved into a multi-role platform used far beyond tourism. Operators worldwide employ the helicopter for helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS), law enforcement patrols, offshore shuttle work, private transport, utility lifting, electronic news gathering, and pilot training. Its wide cabin and flat floor configuration have also made it popular for VIP transport and medical interiors.
Among the most prominent H130 and EC130 operators are sightseeing companies in the United States, particularly in Hawaii and the Grand Canyon region, as well as tourism and charter operators across Europe, Latin America, Australia, and Africa. The model has also seen extensive use in safari operations throughout eastern and southern Africa, where its visibility and passenger comfort are highly valued for wildlife tourism flights.
The H130 belongs to a broader Airbus single-engine helicopter lineage that includes the AS350/H125 family. While the H125 emphasizes utility, external load, and high-performance operations, the H130 focuses more heavily on passenger comfort, quietness, and premium transport capability. Together, the two aircraft families have become among the most commercially successful civil helicopters ever produced.
Airbus has continued refining the H130 platform through avionics upgrades, improved cabin features, and enhanced safety systems. The aircraft is increasingly being positioned as a lower-noise and lower-emission solution for urban mobility, tourism, and executive transportation markets, while retaining the rugged operational flexibility required in remote environments.
The delivery of the 1,000th H130 to Rotorjet Aviation underscores the aircraft’s enduring market presence more than two decades after the EC130’s first flight and reflects the continued demand for reliable single-engine helicopters capable of operating across a wide variety of civil missions worldwide.
See also |
Airbus H130
