Airbus Helicopters announces factory acceptance of training aircraft

DONAUWORTH, Germany, July 27 (UPI) -- Boeing Defense Australia has given factory acceptance to the first of 15 EC135 T2+ Airbus helicopters for an Australian Defense Force training program.

"Airbus Helicopters is thrilled that Boeing and the commonwealth of Australia have demonstrated their confidence in our product by accepting this first EC135 T2+, on time and on budget, as part of a world-leading high-tech helicopter air crew training system for the ADF," said Airbus Helicopters' Peter Harris, head of governmental sales for Australia Pacific.

"Following contract signature in November of 2014, the first aircraft took to the skies on the 16th of January 2015, and is now accepted by the customer. The next steps involve training of initial Boeing and commonwealth air crews and technicians here in Donauwörth, before shipment to Australia in January 2016."

The Australian training program, for which Boeing Defense Australia is prime contractor, is called Helicopter Aircrew Training System. It is for both army and navy air crew.

The EC135 T2+ is a twin-engine aircraft and features a high-visibility glass cockpit and a multi-axis auto-pilot. It has a cruise speed of 158 mph and a range of 392 miles.