Helikopter - EC176 har fått typesertifikat

EC175 - Le Bourget 2009 Foto: Per Gram

 

EC175 Gets EASA Approval, Starts Cold-weather TestsThe EASA has certified the Airbus Helicopters EC175 medium twin, issuing the type certificate last Thursday. On January 28, the airframer announced it had completed the certification process and was expecting the certificate within days, which the EASA qualified by indicating the document would be delivered in the first quarter. An EASA spokesman confirmed yesterday that the final paperwork was completed more quickly than anticipated. Meanwhile, an EC175 is currently undergoing cold-weather testing at Yellowknife Airport in Canada’s Northwest Territories. An Antonov An-124 transported the helicopter there on January 24, and local operator Great Slave Helicopters is providing logistical support. The Airbus Helicopters team at Yellowknife includes test pilot Olivier Gensse, two flight-test engineers, a prototype team and mechanics. The EC175’s cold-soak test campaign will last three to four weeks. Hot-weather and altitude trials are slated to begin later this year. The goal of these test campaigns is to expand the certified temperature envelope of the helicopter, an Airbus Helicopters spokesperson said.