Airbus Helicopters, March 11, 2025 - Verticon 2025, Dallas, Texas - Airbus Helicopters has introduced its H140 at the vertical lift industry show VERTICON in Dallas, Texas.
The multi-mission helicopter raises the bar in the light twin-engined category, for performance, cost-effectiveness, and passenger and crew comfort. The H140 is a 3-tonne class rotorcraft that complements Airbus Helicopters' current light twin offering for the emergency medical services, passenger transport, and private and business aviation markets. The entry into service of the helicopter is planned in 2028 for the emergency medical services segment.
Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, said “Introducing a new helicopter to the light twin engine segment is a testimony to our commitment to meeting our customers’ evolving mission requirements, leveraging our R&T programmes such as Bluecopter. We worked hand in hand with our H135 customers to bring their additional requirements together in the H140’s efficient design. It enables customers to benefit from a bigger mission-enhancing cabin space that was sized to an optimised engine performance for the best-in-class payload and range. We are proud to be able to offer our customers the most competitive choices,” he added.
The Company presented a full-scale model in an emergency medical services configuration at VERTICON. The 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. 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.
The H140, powered by the Safran Arrius 2E 700 shp engine, offers the best payload/range in its class. The two engines of the helicopter are managed by a dual-channel full-authority digital engine control (FADEC) system, guaranteeing unprecedented levels of performance in all engines operative (AEO) operations and considerable power reserves in one engine inoperative (OEI) scenarios.
The new H140 also features the same five-bladed rotor system that was introduced on the H145 in 2019. The bearingless main rotor design simplifies maintenance, improves serviceability and reliability, and provides the highest level of passenger and crew comfort. H140 operators will benefit from an optimised maintenance plan that harmonises airframe and engine maintenance schedules and allows longer intervals between inspections, reducing the helicopter's operating and maintenance costs. In total, the company will have four dedicated prototypes, with the first aircraft already being flight tested at the company’s site in Donauwörth.
The H140 will feature Helionix, Airbus Helicopters’ avionic system that also equips the H135, H145, H160 and H175. Helionix, in addition to the 4-axis autopilot, offers an innovative cockpit layout to enhance situational awareness, reducing the pilot workload and increasing the safety during the mission.
Arrius 2E
Safran - Safran Helicopter Engines has been selected by Airbus Helicopters to power their H140 helicopter. This new 3-tonne class light twin-engine helicopter will be powered by the 700 shp power class Arrius 2E, the most advanced model of the Arrius family.
The Arrius 2E benefits from innovative technologies developed on the Arriel 2E and Arrano 1A engines (respectively powering the H145 and H160 helicopters) improving its operability and competitiveness. A redesign of the hot section allows an additional 10% of power compared to previous generations of the Arrius 2 engine. The association of the latest dual-channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) with a state-of-the-art engine control system brings reliability and availability to the next level. The Arrius 2E also features additive manufactured parts, including the Hydro-Mechanical Unit (HMU), decreasing the overall weight of the engine while increasing the performance of this key equipment.
Thanks to these improvements, the Arrius 2E benefits from reduced operating costs and a light maintenance schedule displaying a Time Between Overhaul (TBO) of no less than 5,000 hours at entry into service.
Cédric Goubet, President of Safran Helicopter Engines, “The Arrius 2E is a new engine that maintains high commonality with other Arrius 2 models, while incorporating new technologies that maximize its performance and make it easier to use. By selecting Safran Arrius engines for its light twin-engine helicopters, Airbus is choosing the best propulsion solution available for this type of helicopter and a world-class support network”
With more than 4,000 engines delivered to 430 customers in 60 countries and more than 10 million flight hours, the Arrius family covers a power range from 450 to 750 shp and is designed for the single and twin-engine light helicopter market. This is a family of engines whose maturity and robustness have been largely demonstrated in operation
Simple in design, robust and renowned for its unrivaled operating and maintenance costs, the Arrius has become over the last 30 years one of the most popular engines for light, single and twin-engine helicopters. It is the number one choice for operators carrying out demanding missions, such as air medical transport (EMS), police and parapublic services, search and rescue, or military training.
Safran Helicopter Engines is the world’s leading manufacturer of helicopter engines, with more than 75,000 produced since being founded. It offers the widest range of helicopter turboshafts in the world and has more than 2,500 customers in 155 countries.
About Safran : Safran an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 100,000 employees and sales of 27.3 billion euros in 2024, and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets. Safran is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange and is part of the CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 indices.
The multi-mission helicopter raises the bar in the light twin-engined category, for performance, cost-effectiveness, and passenger and crew comfort. The H140 is a 3-tonne class rotorcraft that complements Airbus Helicopters' current light twin offering for the emergency medical services, passenger transport, and private and business aviation markets. The entry into service of the helicopter is planned in 2028 for the emergency medical services segment.
Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, said “Introducing a new helicopter to the light twin engine segment is a testimony to our commitment to meeting our customers’ evolving mission requirements, leveraging our R&T programmes such as Bluecopter. We worked hand in hand with our H135 customers to bring their additional requirements together in the H140’s efficient design. It enables customers to benefit from a bigger mission-enhancing cabin space that was sized to an optimised engine performance for the best-in-class payload and range. We are proud to be able to offer our customers the most competitive choices,” he added.
The Company presented a full-scale model in an emergency medical services configuration at VERTICON. The 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. 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.
The H140, powered by the Safran Arrius 2E 700 shp engine, offers the best payload/range in its class. The two engines of the helicopter are managed by a dual-channel full-authority digital engine control (FADEC) system, guaranteeing unprecedented levels of performance in all engines operative (AEO) operations and considerable power reserves in one engine inoperative (OEI) scenarios.
The new H140 also features the same five-bladed rotor system that was introduced on the H145 in 2019. The bearingless main rotor design simplifies maintenance, improves serviceability and reliability, and provides the highest level of passenger and crew comfort. H140 operators will benefit from an optimised maintenance plan that harmonises airframe and engine maintenance schedules and allows longer intervals between inspections, reducing the helicopter's operating and maintenance costs. In total, the company will have four dedicated prototypes, with the first aircraft already being flight tested at the company’s site in Donauwörth.
The H140 will feature Helionix, Airbus Helicopters’ avionic system that also equips the H135, H145, H160 and H175. Helionix, in addition to the 4-axis autopilot, offers an innovative cockpit layout to enhance situational awareness, reducing the pilot workload and increasing the safety during the mission.
Safran selected to power new Airbus H140 helicopter
Arrius 2E
Safran - Safran Helicopter Engines has been selected by Airbus Helicopters to power their H140 helicopter. This new 3-tonne class light twin-engine helicopter will be powered by the 700 shp power class Arrius 2E, the most advanced model of the Arrius family.
The Arrius 2E benefits from innovative technologies developed on the Arriel 2E and Arrano 1A engines (respectively powering the H145 and H160 helicopters) improving its operability and competitiveness. A redesign of the hot section allows an additional 10% of power compared to previous generations of the Arrius 2 engine. The association of the latest dual-channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) with a state-of-the-art engine control system brings reliability and availability to the next level. The Arrius 2E also features additive manufactured parts, including the Hydro-Mechanical Unit (HMU), decreasing the overall weight of the engine while increasing the performance of this key equipment.
Thanks to these improvements, the Arrius 2E benefits from reduced operating costs and a light maintenance schedule displaying a Time Between Overhaul (TBO) of no less than 5,000 hours at entry into service.
Cédric Goubet, President of Safran Helicopter Engines, “The Arrius 2E is a new engine that maintains high commonality with other Arrius 2 models, while incorporating new technologies that maximize its performance and make it easier to use. By selecting Safran Arrius engines for its light twin-engine helicopters, Airbus is choosing the best propulsion solution available for this type of helicopter and a world-class support network”
With more than 4,000 engines delivered to 430 customers in 60 countries and more than 10 million flight hours, the Arrius family covers a power range from 450 to 750 shp and is designed for the single and twin-engine light helicopter market. This is a family of engines whose maturity and robustness have been largely demonstrated in operation
Simple in design, robust and renowned for its unrivaled operating and maintenance costs, the Arrius has become over the last 30 years one of the most popular engines for light, single and twin-engine helicopters. It is the number one choice for operators carrying out demanding missions, such as air medical transport (EMS), police and parapublic services, search and rescue, or military training.
Safran Helicopter Engines is the world’s leading manufacturer of helicopter engines, with more than 75,000 produced since being founded. It offers the widest range of helicopter turboshafts in the world and has more than 2,500 customers in 155 countries.
About Safran : Safran an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 100,000 employees and sales of 27.3 billion euros in 2024, and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets. Safran is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange and is part of the CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 indices.
Presentation of the H140 at VAI Verticon 2025
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Airbus H140
Helionix Eurocopter France Safran Arrius 2E
