Description:
Eurocopter's EC 145 is based on BK 117 helicopter developed by MBB (now Eurocopter) of Germany and Kawasaki of Japan in the 1970s. There are many variants of BK 117 depending mainly on its motorization. The most recent version is the EC 145, also known as the BK 117C-2, was developed in parallel with Japanese Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) and features near the same forward cabin from Eurocopter's EC 135 helicopter.
The EC 145 is a twin-engine, medium weight-class (4-ton class), multi-purpose helicopter intended for the commercial market. It is powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 1E2 engines. Thanks to its spacious cabin and flat floor the EC 145 can be configured for passenger transport, search and rescue (SAR), emergency medical service and law enforcement. The helicopter is available with a digital glass cockpit for better ergonomics and reduced pilot's workload.
Compared with BK 117C-1, the EC 145 features increased seating capacity for up to ten persons (one pilot plus nine passengers). Access to the cabin can be done through the lateral sliding doors and the rear loading doors. EC 145/BK 117C-2 has lower noise emission levels than the BK 117C-1 aircraft and it is below the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for helicopters in its category (6.7 dB).
In early 2005, Eurocopter had delivered 62 EC 145s logging more than 39,000 flight hours. A total of 19 EC 145 helicopters were delivered to end customers in 2005. Eurocopter proposed the UH-145 variant derived from EC 145 aircraft for the US Army Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) program in 2005.
On 20 February 2006 the London Metropolitan Police Authority placed an order for three Eurocopter EC 145 helicopters with deliveries to start in late 2006 through to early 2007.
On 27 February 2006 the Lithuanian Border Guard placed an order worth 18 million Euro for two EC 135 and one EC 145 helicopters to be delivered by the end of 2006. These aircraft were ordered to complement two EC 120s operated by the Lithuanian Border Guard.
On 29 August 2006, Spanish INAER Group placed an order for nine helicopters from Eurocopter to be delivered between June 2007 and January 2009. The order included: four EC 135s, two EC 145s, two AS350B3 Squirrel and one AS355NP Squirrel helicopters valued at 33 million Euros. These aircraft were intended to provide fire fighting, civil protection and emergency medical services across Spain, Portugal and Italy.
On 12 October 2006, Warsaw-based Heli Invest placed an order for one EC 135 helicopter and one EC 145 helicopter on behalf of two undisclosed corporate customers in Poland.
Specifications Accommodation: Crew 1, Passengers 9
Dimensions: Height 3.5 m, Length 10.2 m, Width 1.8 m
Weights: Max Weight 3,550 kg (7,826 lb), Payload 1,700 kg (3,748 lb)
Performance: Ceiling 5,485 m (17,995 ft), Cruise Speed 66 mps (237 kph), Endurance 4 hours, Max Range 700 km (378 nm), Top Speed 77 mps (278 kph)
Australia / 2 
France
Aircraft ordered by Securite Civile (33)
Germany
Greece / 3 
Indonesia
Iraq
Japan
Lithuania / 1 
Mexico
Poland / 1 
Russia
South Africa
Spain / 2 
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine / 2 
United Kingdom / 4 
United States of America