WorldTekhno.com – The Ecuadorian government acquired five used H225 (AS332) Super Puma helicopters and spare parts from Airbus. The helicopter will be used by the Ecuadorian Army Aviation (AAE).
AAE will use the H225 to carry out counter-narcotics and counter-terrorism missions in various regions of the country, especially in the country’s border areas.
The used Super Puma helicopter acquired by Ecuador had been operated for 2,000 flight hours by its previous user.
The Super Puma H225 (AS332) is a long-range passenger transport helicopter developed by Eurocopter as the next generation of the Super Puma family of civil helicopters. The helicopter is twin-engine and can carry up to 24 passengers along with two crew members and a flight attendant, depending on customer configuration. The helicopter is marketed to support VIP and offshore passenger transport tasks, as well as public service missions.
The H225 is a development of the AS332L2 Super Puma, with a number of enhancements, including:
- New main rotor system with composite blades.
- New tail rotor system
- New avionics suite
- More powerful engine
- More spacious cabin
The H225 entered service in 2004 and has been delivered to more than 100 customers in over 50 countries. This helicopter is a popular choice for offshore oil and gas support, search and rescue and VIP transport.
The H225 has been involved in several accidents, including a fatal crash in the North Sea in 2016. However, the helicopter is generally considered safe and reliable.
Here are some of the H225’s key features:
- Range: 433 nautical miles (784 km).
- Maximum speed: 150 knots (278 km/h)
- Payload: 24 passengers or 5,600 kg (12,346 lb)
- Engine: 2 × Turbomeca Makila 2A1 turboshafts
The H225 is a versatile and capable helicopter used by a variety of operators for a variety of missions. This helicopter is an important part of the Airbus Helicopters portfolio and is expected to remain in service for many years.***
