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Eurocopter EC 155B1
(AS 365N4 Dauphin)
Type
Medium-lift twin-engined helicopter (Mehrzweckhubschrauber)
Country (Land)
France
Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Eurocopter
Aeroport Marseille-Provence
13725 Marignane
France
Phone: 0033-4/4285-9555
Fax: 0033-4/4285-9564
Internet: www.eurocopter.com
General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 1 or 2
Passengers (Passagiere):
- 12 in passenger version with comfort seats
- 8 in VIP layout. 9 and 10 seat variants are also available since 2005
- 13 in paramilitary operations
- up to four stretchers or two strechers and four seats.
Cargo hold (Gepäckraum): 2,5 cu m (88 cu ft)
Power plant (Antrieb): In the EC 155B1, there are 2 x Turboméca Arriel 2C2 turboshafts (Wellenturbinen) with FADEC. At the beginning 2C1s were used.
Power (Leistung): 2 x 697 kW (935 shp) for take off, 636 kW (853 shp) max continuous and 780 kW (1061 shp) for 30 seconds in an emergency in the EC 155B1
The earlier Arriel 2C1 was rated at 2 x 635 kW (851 shp) at take-off, 977 shp (729 kW) for 30 sec emergency and 800 shp (597 kW) max. continuous
Fuel comsumption (Kraftstoffverbrauch): 345 kg/h at recommended cruise speed
Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Fuselage length (Rumpflänge): 12,71 m
Overall length, rotors turning (Länge über alles): 14,30 m
Width over stabiliser (Breite über alles): 3,48 m
Height (Höhe): 4,35 m over tail
Rotor diameter (Hauptrotordurchmesser): 12,60 m
Fenestron diameter: 1,10 m
Cabin length (Kabinenlänge): 2,55 m without cockpit
Cabin width (Kabinenbreite): 2,05 m
Cabin height (Kabinenhöhe): 1,34 m
Cabin area (Kabinenfläche): 5,09 sq m
Cabin volume (Kabinenvolumen): 6,66 cu m without cockpit
Hold volume (Gepäckraumvolumen): 2,5 cu m
Weights (Massen)
Empty weight (Leermasse): 2619 kg in the EC 155B1 (earlier 2528 kg)
Useful load (Zuladung): 2301 kg in the EC 155B1 (2272 kg earlier)
Fuel capacity (Kraftstoff): 1257 litres (993 kg) or up to 1897 litres with ferry tanks
Max. external load (max. Außenlast): 1600 kg
Max. take-off weight (Max. Startmasse): 4920 kg since late 2004 (was 4800 kg in early versions and 4850 kg in the EC 155B1 at first)
Performance (Flugleistungen)
Never exceed speed (Höchstgeschwindigkeit): 324 km/h (175 kts)
Fast cruise speed (max. Reisegeschwindigkeit): 278 km/h (150 kts) or 296 km/h at 4000 kg weight, both at 6000 ft
Recommended cruise speed (wirtschaftliche Reisegeschwindigkeit): 270 km/h (146 kts) at 6000 ft
Rate-of climb (Steigrate): 5,9 m/s or 8,9 m/s with 4000 kg take-off weight
Service ceiling (Dienstgipfelhöhe): over 4570 m (15000 ft) at ISA conditions
Hover ceiling (Schwebeflughöhe)
- in ground effect (mit Bodeneffekt): 2145 m, at ISA conditions or 1230 m at ISA + 20 deg C
- out of ground effect (ohne Bodeneffekt): 2435 m at 4400 kg gross weight or 3320 m at 4000 kg gross weight, but 0 at maximum 4920 kg take-off weight
Range without reservee (Reichweite):
- 791 km (427 NM) with standard tanks, at recommended cruise speed
- 909 km (491 NM) with auxiliary tanks
Max. endurance (max. Flugdauer): 4:05 hrs without reserves (standard tanks), or 4:42 hrs with optional auxiliary tank
Costs (Kosten)
In 2003, reports mentioned a price of 10 million US-Dollars for police versions.
In May 1998, the price of the EC 155 was quoted as six to seven million US-Dollars, depending on equipment.
Direct operating costs were put at 775,8 US-Dollars per hour in January 2000, including 154,5 Dollars for fuel.
Customers (Kunden)
By September 2005, more than 60 EC 155s had been handed over to 30 customers in 16 countries.
By September 2001, there were 44 orders for the EC 155.
Known customers are:
- Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL)
: 4. Contract for EC 155B1 model signed in October 2002 for deliveries from late 2003.
- COHC:
2. Ordered for 3 was announced in 2001, but deliveries apparently started in September 2005.
- Dancopter:
1. Handed over at Le Bourget show in June 2003.
- Fred Dasner
(co-chairman of US News & World Report): First customer in North America, with a corporate interior for six. The deal was announced at Heli-Expo 2000 in Las Vegas. Delivery was scheduled for the first quarter of 2001.
- Grenzschutz Fliegergruppe
(Germany): 15. On 16 December 1997, the German Bundesgrenzschutz (border patrol) placed an order for 13 examples to be delivered between 1998 and 2001. A further two were ordered in February 2002 for delivery in 2003.
- Government Flight Service
(Hong Kong): 5 helicopters. Deliveries began in September 2002. One crashed on 27 August 2003.
- Helicopter Services Group
(Norway): The company ordered six and took options on six more prior to the first flight
- Heli Unionair:
1. Ordered in February 2002 for VIP services. The company is based at Nürnberg, Germany.
- Huizenga Holdings
: 1. To replace a Bell 430 in use for corporate duties.
- Monacair:
1. Handed over on 8 September 2005
- Polizeihubschrauberstaffel Baden-Württemberg
(Germany): Two EC 155Bs were ordered on 15 February 2000 as light transport helicopters. Delivery was scheduled for March 2001.
- Royal Thai Police:
2. In service since February 2005 at Ram Inthra in Bangkok. Were ordered on 6 February 2004.
- Samsung
: 1. Delivered on 5 December 2003.
- Shell Nigeria
: 6 ordered. First handed over on 26 September 2001. For support of oil and gas exploration offshore. All should be in service by the first quarter 2002. Six options are held.
- Swedish Helicopter Service
: 3. Ordered on 18 June 2001 at the Paris Air Show, for delivery between October and December 2002.
- Tex-Air Helicopters:
2. Contract signed at Heli-Expo in February 2003.
Competitors (Konkurrenz)
Bell 430
Bell 412EP
Sikorsky S-76C++
Remarks (Bemerkungen)
In keeping with its „family“ approach, Eurocopter developed a major enhancement of its long-running Dauphin, featuring a completely redesigned „wide-body“-cabin. It provides 40 per cent more internal space, with an 18 cm higher ceiling and a length increased by 30 cm. The AS 365N4, renamed the EC 155, has a new main rotor (Spheriflex type) with five blades and 0,6 m more diameter, which will significantly lower vibration. The Fenestron tail-rotor is also optimised with asymmetrically spaced blades for low noise levels. Further improvements include the Sextant „New Avionics“ with active-matix LCD screens in the cockpit.
History (Geschichte)
Development of the AS 365N4 (now EC 155B) began in September 1996, with an official announcement at the Paris Air Show in June 1997. At the show, Helicopter Services of Norway signed on as launch customer, with first deliveries announced for November 1998.
The first helicopter, a rebuilt Dauphin, made its maiden flight on June 17, 1997 at Marignane. The first pre-production machine took to the air on March 11, 1998, some three months late.
Initial type certification was granted simultaneously by the DGAC (France) and the Luftfaht-Bundesamt (Germany) on 11 December 1998, at least four months behind the original schedules.
After pilot training at the factory in Marignane had already begun earlier, the German BGS officially took delivery of its first three EC 155 on March 16, 1999, at the Bonn-Hangelar headquarters of the Fliegergruppe (flying department of the border guard). After further training of pilots and ground crews, official operational use of the EC 155 at the BGS began on 21. January 2000, with a ceremony at Blumberg near Berlin, attended by Minister of the Interior Otto Schily.
On 25 January 2000, the EC 155 got its single-pilot IFR certificate from several international aviation authorities.
By June 2001, the 18 helicopters already in service had achieved 5500 flight hours. By February 2002, 27 helicopters had been handed over.
Deliveries of the EC 155B1 version, featuring the more powerful Ariel 2C2 engine, began in September 2002.
In 2004, the envelope for starting up the rotor in high winds has been increased to 55 kt (100 km/h) thanks to a new optional package known as “coning stops”, and the helicopter has also been certified for operations at temperatures down to -40° Centigrade. These mods are available for retrofit for the B and B1 models. Times Between Overhauls of the dynamic components have been increased. The tail rotor blades, which make use of Resin Transfer Molding technology and offer high resistance to erosion, have had their service life tripled.
To increase the competitiveness of the EC 155B1 in the offshore market, its maximum take-off weight was increased to 4,920 kg. Certification was granted end of 2004.
At the beginning of 2005, 63 EC 155s were delivered, having chalked up 54.000 flight hours.
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