The first ACH160 was delivered by Airbus Helicopters on the eve of this year’s Latin American Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (LABACE) at Congonhas airport, São Paulo, Brazil. The helicopter will be the first H160 to fly in Latin America.
“We are very proud that the world’s first ACH160 has been delivered here in Brazil, and look forward to seeing its distinctive and elegant silhouette flying through the skies of São Paulo,” said Jean-Luc Alfonsi, managing director of Airbus Helicopters’ Brazilian customer centre, Helibras. “Helibras is the leader in the Brazilian turbine helicopter executive aviation segment and we are confident the ACH160 will set new standards for customers and operators wanting to make a distinctive choice in terms of safety, comfort and performance.”
According to data from the Brazilian General Aviation Association (ABAG), more than 2,500 airports and 1,300 heliports in Brazil use corporate aviation services via jets, turboprops, piston aircraft and helicopters. “The growing general aviation market in Brazil is crucial for increasing economic and social productivity, as well for maintaining the country’s air connectivity,” said Alfonsi.
Airbus Helicopters said the ACH160, the latest member of the ACH family, provides 20% greater volume per passenger compared with previous-generation medium twin helicopters. The ACH160 family is designed in three versions – Line, Line with Lounge package, and Exclusive – with different levels of customisation to fit the lifestyle of each customer. The ACH160’s design lays claim to 68 new patents. Features include large windows, the canted Fenestron for greater useful load and a flat attitude in flight, and sound-reducing Blue Edge rotor blades for quieter operations.
