This "round" figure is also representative of the many years of close cooperation between the two companies - ÖAMTC and Eurocopter. Back in 1983, ÖAMTC acquired its first Eurocopter EMS helicopter, an AS355F named "Christophorus 1". Soon after, ÖAMTC was serving six rescue bases with its helicopters. As part of its fleet modernization program which began in 1997, ÖAMTC successively introduced the EC135 for all its bases and bought an initial batch of seven. In September 2000, the Austrian government decided to privatize helicopter EMS entirely. The ÖAMTC took over the bases which had previously been operated by the government with the most modern rescue helicopter in the market, the EC135. Over the years, an additional 21 helicopters were purchased.
Bestseller EC135 - versatile, quiet, safe and cost-efficient
The EC135 stands for modernity and innovation: The worldwide success of this Eurocopter aircraft is assured thanks to the helicopter's easy handling, its excellent maneuverability and its high availability (98 percent). Other advantageous features of the EC135 are its bearingless main rotor and the use of advanced materials. The aircraft's shrouded Fenestron® tail rotor reduces noise levels and vibrations during operations decisively (the external noise level is 7 db below ICAO limits). This makes the EC135 the perfect choice for Air Ambulance missions near or in urban areas and guarantees cost-efficient missions and the highest possible safety for crew and patients.
ÖAMTC took a very foresighted decision in 1997 when it was one of the first customers to opt for the EC135, which is wholly manufactured at Eurocopter's German site in Donauwörth. Since then, this helicopter has become a bestseller in the world market for light, twin-engine helicopters, especially in the EMS and law enforcement sectors. Approximately 100 aircraft of this type rolled off the Eurocopter production lines in 2007, 2008 and 2009. In total, over 900 EC135s have been delivered to customers all over the world.