Editing Eurocopter EC135 (section)

===Further development===
[[File: Eurocopter EC135P1 of Western Power Distribution (G-WPDD) leaves Bristol Airport, England 15Aug2016 arp.jpg|thumb|A Eurocopter EC135P1 of [[Western Power Distribution]] leaves [[Bristol Airport]], 2016]]
In 2000, Eurocopter announced the start of certification work on the EC135P2, powered by the [[Pratt & Whitney Canada]] PW206B2, offering improved single-engine performance and 30-second emergency power. The [[Luftfahrt-Bundesamt|LBA]] certification was achieved in July 2001, and the first EC135 with the new engines was handed over to the [[Swedish Police Authority]] in August 2001.<ref name="ben 89">Benenson 2004. p. 89.</ref> In September 2002, the EC135T2 equipped with the improved Turbomeca Arrius 2B2 was made available, providing for improved single-engine performance.<ref name="ben 89"/>

In 2002, the EC135 active control technology demonstrator/flying helicopter simulator (ACT/FHS), a research aircraft designed to test [[fibre optic]]-based flight control systems, undertook its first flight.<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/fly-by-light-ec135-helicopter-makes-first-flight-142313/ "Fly-by-light EC135 helicopter makes first flight"]. ''Flight International'', 5 February 2002.</ref> In 2014, Airbus Helicopters began flying the Bluecopter demonstrator aircraft, built to explore more efficient design elements, including economy-optimised single-engine operations, Blue Edge swept rotor blades to reduce noise and increase efficiency, a relocated horizontal stabilizer outside the main rotor's downwash, an active rudder, and new water-based external paint; these changes were aimed at cutting fuel consumption by 40%.<ref>Dubois, Thierry. [http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2015-07-07/airbus-helicopters-unveils-bluecopter-demonstrator "Airbus Helicopters Unveils Bluecopter Demonstrator"]. ''AIN Online'', 7 July 2015.</ref> In December 2014, the single-engine operations portion of the Bluecopter tests were delayed to summer 2016 to make necessary avionics changes, such as to the engine's [[FADEC]] systems.<ref>Perry, Dominic. [https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/bluecopter-flights-end-without-tests-of-single-engin-419649/ "Bluecopter flights end without tests of single-engine operation"]. ''Flight International'', 2 December 2015.</ref>

In March 2007, at the NBAA  in [[Atlanta]], Eurocopter unveiled '''L'Hélicoptère par Hermès'', a special-edition VIP model designed by [[Hermès|Hermès International, S.A.]] It features a customized luxury four-place main cabin, a sliding glass partition, a corporate baggage hold, redesigned skid landing gear and other external changes. The launch customer for the type is Falcon Aviation Services (FAS), based in [[Abu Dhabi]], United Arab Emirates.<ref>[http://www.businessjetinteriorsinternational.com/news.php?NewsID=12121 "Eurocopter and Hermès deliver first EC135 'l'Hélicoptère par Hermès'"]. ''Business Jet Interiors International'', Retrieved: 31 May 2015.</ref> In July 2014, Airbus Helicopters made further personalization options available for the EC135 l'Helicoptere par Hermes.<ref>Wynbrandt, James. [http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/2014-07-16/web-extra-more-personalization-options-hermes-ec135 "Web Extra: More Personalization Options for Hermes EC135"]. ''AIN Online'', 16 July 2014.</ref>

In 2011, Eurocopter formalised a license manufacturing agreement with Zhong-Ou International Group to produce the EC135 luxury helicopter in [[Zhejiang]] Province, China.<ref name="AirForceWorld.com_EC135_helicopter_China_licensed_built">{{cite web |url=http://airforceworld.com/pla/english/ec135-helicopter-china-eurocopter.html |title=EC135 Helicopter to be built in China |access-date=18 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110719110644/http://airforceworld.com/pla/english/ec135-helicopter-china-eurocopter.html |archive-date=19 July 2011}}</ref> In October 2015, a letter of intent between Airbus Helicopters and Ecopark was signed for the establishment of a final assembly line (FAL) in [[Qingdao]] Province, China. A related $1.1 billion order for 100 Chinese-assembled H135s was announced in the same month.<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-30/airbus-helicopter-signs-china-deal-worth-more-than-1-billion "Airbus Helicopter Signs China Deal for More Than $1b"]. ''Bloomberg'', 30 October 2015.</ref> The majority of assembly work on the type remains at Airbus Helicopter's [[Donauwörth]] facility.<ref>Perry, Dominic. [https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/h135-helicopters-due-for-china-assembly-418436/ "H135 helicopters due for China assembly"]. ''Flight International'', 30 October 2015.</ref> Construction of the FAL started in May 2017,<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.airbushelicopters.com/website/en/press/Airbus-Helicopters-breaks-ground-on-first-helicopter-assembly-line-in-China_2116.html |title=Airbus Helicopters breaks ground on first helicopter assembly line in China |date=27 May 2017 |publisher=Airbus Helicopters}}</ref> and opened for production in April 2019.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Pittaway |first=Nigel |title=China's H135 final assembly line |magazine=[[Air International]] |date=June 2019 |volume=96 |issue=6 |page=117 |issn=0306-5634}}</ref>

In January 2016, the Ural Works of Civil Aviation (UWCA), a division of [[Rostec]], signed an agreement to build the H135 under licence at the firm's facility in [[Yekaterinburg]], Russia.<ref>Gerden, Eugene. [http://www.verticalmag.com/news/article/Russias-Ural-Works-of-Civil-Aviation-to-start-licensed-production-of-H135s "Russia's Ural Works of Civil Aviation to start licensed production of H135s"]. ''Vertical'', 28 January 2016.</ref><ref>Korsunskaya, Darya. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160129054300/http://uk.reuters.com/article/russia-airbus-group-idUKR4N15401Q "Russia signs license agreement on producing Airbus H135 helicopters in Russia"]. ''Reuters'', 25 January 2016.</ref> In May 2016, it was reported that Russian production of the H135 was anticipated to begin in 2017, following the receipt of Russian [[type certification]]. Russian manufacturers may be incorporated in the global supply chain.<ref>[http://tass.ru/en/economy/875556 "Airbus Helicopters plans to start producing H135 helicopters in Russia in 2017"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119173451/http://tass.ru/en/economy/875556 |date=19 November 2018 }} ''TASS'', 13 May 2016.</ref>

Two variants, the EC135 T3 and EC135 P3, were developed with improved high altitude and hover performance.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}} Changes include repositioned air intakes to the engines, wider blades being installed on the main rotor, and changes to the fenstron anti-torque tail device. The EC135 T3 was introduced to service in December 2014.<ref name="engineer 2014">Nathan, Stuart. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150321081736/http://www.theengineer.co.uk/blog/helicopters-give-latest-technologies-a-whirl/1019627.article "Helicopters give latest technologies a whirl"]. ''The Engineer'', 12 December 2014.</ref>

In December 2020, the H135 helicopter family EASA has certified a new Alternate Gross Weight (AGW). With the new AGW, the maximum takeoff weight has been increased up to 265&nbsp;lb (120&nbsp;kg) and payload. This modification can be used to increase range by up to 75&nbsp;nm or endurance by up to 40 minutes under standard conditions. The new AGW is available as an option and can be applied retroactively to all Helionix-equipped H135s.<ref name="Airbus17Dec20">{{Cite web|url=https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2020/12/Airbus-Helicopters-boosts-mission-capabilities-of-H135-helicopters.html|title=Airbus Helicopters boosts the mission capabilities of its H135 helicopters|publisher=Airbus |date=17 December 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210308125902/https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2020/12/Airbus-Helicopters-boosts-mission-capabilities-of-H135-helicopters.html|archive-date=8 March 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2020, Airbus certified a new single-pilot IFR Helionix cockpit for its H135 helicopters. The modified cockpit allows customers to choose whether to remove the copilot side of the instrument panel to increase the field of view or keep it to install specific STC equipment.<ref name="Airbus17Dec20"/>