Factory Acceptance For Airbus HATS01 Helicopter, Meant for Australian Army, Navy Pilot Training

Airbus Helicopters has achieved Factory Acceptance of HATS01, the first of fifteen helicopters of theH135 family, for joint Australian Navy and Army pilot training.

Boeing Defence Australia is the prime contractor for the new training system for the Australian Defense Force.

Under the JP 9000 Phase 7 HATS project, a new joint helicopter training system for both Army and Navy aircrew will utilise the EC135 T2+ helicopters, along with flight simulators and a new flight-deck equipped sea-going training vessel.

Peter Harris, Head of Governmental Sales for Australia Pacific said in the press release today, “Following contract signature in November of 2014, the first aircraft took to the skies on the 16th of January 2015, and is now accepted by the customer.

“The next steps involve training of initial Boeing and Commonwealth aircrews and technicians here in Donauwörth, before shipment to Australia in January 2016” Harris added.

Boeing’s HATS Program Manager James Heading said that during 2015 the Boeing team have been conducting engineering evaluations and ground and flight test activities and have been fully satisfied with the results.

The EC135 T2+ is a consummate military training helicopter, offering a glass cockpit with high visibility, a multi-axis auto-pilot, the performance and safety of a twin-engine helicopter replacing current single types, plus other advanced technologies to help instructors perform training missions safely and provide the ADF with the flexibility to undertake additional missions.