Airbus secures deal with ADAC Luftrettung and ÖAMTC Flugrettung for ten H140 helicopters under new agreement.
The helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) operators, ADAC Luftrettung and ÖAMTC Flugrettung, are set to modernise their fleets with the acquisition of the new Airbus H140 helicopter. This move comes as a testament to the aircraft's suitability for rescue and medical transport missions.
In a joint agreement, the operators have committed to purchasing a total of ten H140 helicopters, with each receiving five. This decision was announced at the VERTICON 2025, where the H140 was unveiled, aiming to set a new standard for performance, cost-effectiveness, and passenger and crew comfort in the light twin-engined category.
The H140, a 3-tonne class rotorcraft, is designed to bridge the gap between the smaller H135 and the larger H145. It features a larger cabin, providing more space for medical personnel, patients, and equipment. This enhancement improves mission versatility, particularly for emergency medical services (EMS).
One of the key features of the H140 is its new Safran Arrius 2ES engine, offering enhanced performance and efficiency compared to predecessors. This engine choice is confirmed by the first flight of the second H140 prototype in August 2025, which showcased these advancements.
ADAC Luftrettung, one of Airbus Helicopters' most long-standing partners in Europe, will also acquire three H135 helicopters and one H145, in addition to the H140s. The H140's design prioritises accessibility, with large clamshell doors and a high tail boom, allowing for the use of various stretcher systems and transport incubators.
For ÖAMTC Flugrettung, the H140 represents a significant step forward. In 2021, the service flew over 22,000 missions, averaging 61 missions per day. The organisation has also contributed to the development of the H140 helicopter.
The H140 is not limited to the EMS segment. It is also planned for the passenger transport, private and business aviation markets. The aircraft boasts a larger cabin space, large windows, and an optimised cabin layout, accommodating up to six passengers comfortably.
ADAC Luftrettung, with its history of over 780,000 air rescue missions and hundreds of thousands of patients transported, has played a key role in the development of modern air rescue in Germany and Europe. The organisation has been instrumental in establishing the EC135 helicopter as the backbone of modern air rescue.
With the adoption of the H140, both ADAC Luftrettung and ÖAMTC Flugrettung are set to upgrade their operations, offering improved operational capacities and newer technologies. The H140 is poised to become a key platform for future air rescue operations.
The HEMS operators' decision to modernize their fleets with the Airbus H140 helicopter signifies a shift towards more advanced technology for rescue and medical transport missions. With the acquisition of ten H140 helicopters, ADAC Luftrettung and ÖAMTC Flugrettung aim to set new standards for performance, cost-effectiveness, and comfort in the light twin-engined category, setting the stage for future air rescue operations with enhanced technology.
