STAT MedEvac orders new H135s
The new aircraft, in EMS configuration, are part of a fleet renewal scheme currently underway by the Pennsylvania-based HEMS provider
STAT MedEvac, the air ambulance service of the Center for Emergency Medicine of Western Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh, has placed an order for 10 H135 helicopters with manufacturer Airbus.
The order is part of STAT’s fleet renewal initiative – the air medical provider currently operates a mixed fleet of Airbus H135 and H145 aircraft, operating out of 18 bases. STAT has flown Airbus helicopters since the launch of the service in 1985 and has been operating H135s since 1997. STAT was also the launch customer of the Helionix-equipped H135 in 2019.
The H135 can be equipped with either two Safran Arrius 2B2 Plus or two Pratt & Whitney PW206B3 engines. The aircraft has a maximum speed of 252km/h with a maximum range of 633km using a standard fuel tank, and a maximum endurance of 3h 36min.
In emergency medical services (EMS) configuration, the helicopter can be fitted to accommodate two pilots, a stretcher, and two medical attendants, while still providing sufficient space to administer care and easily load and unload the patient. The H135 has recently received an alternate gross weight increase for an additional 120kg of useful load.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor at the Voyageur Group. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.