The Airbus H160 in Australia: next-level emergencies need a next-generation response

A land of incredible natural beauty and welcoming hosts is also equally known for the danger of its wildlife and landscapes. Emergency medical services operators in the country need a helicopter that they can rely on to respond to a huge variety of missions - so Airbus took the H160 for a demo tour down under.

Australia's stunning environment: vast deserts, exposed, rugged coastlines, and bush land with ravines and mountains, can prove both inviting and hazardous. The greatest threat however is distance. When disaster strikes, victims may find themselves isolated. Australia understands the necessity for rapid and reliable emergency medical retrieval like few others. The H160 spent a month touring this challenging landscape, visiting major hubs including Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. Local operators were impressed by its capacity to bridge distances quickly, identifying it as a potential lifeline for patients.

A generational leap

Richard Ward, Sales Manager at Airbus Helicopters, believes the H160  corresponds perfectly to what Australia needs for its helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS). “Australia is a vast country with a population distributed over huge distances requiring aircraft with a longer range,” he explains. “It has a spacious cabin – perfect for HEMS, search and rescue. Plus its maintenance-friendly design ensured high aircraft availability which is critical for emergency services.” 

Beyond size and range, Ward also highlights the next-generation advantages that only the most recent addition to Airbus’ range possesses –reduced downwash and smoothness in flight. “In the case of HEMS these often-critical patients can spend increasing time in the aircraft,” says Ward. “High vibration and noise levels can both exacerbate patient distress and negatively affect their medical condition which can also increase demands on crew. The H160 addresses both of these factors with the lowest noise and cabin vibration in its class. Ultimately it combines range, cabin size and comfort and efficiency. It is the most effective way to transport patients over vast distances in the Australian environment.”

Taking care of patients and pressure off pilots

As the pilot chiefly responsible for the demo tour, few people would be as well placed as Olivier Gensse to talk about how well suited the H160 would be for Australian HEMS missions. He points out that when time is of the essence and when pilots and crew really need to focus on the patient – the H160 has the features to make a difference. This is because one of the ambitions for the H160’s design was to create avionics which support the pilot and allow them to focus on the mission."We really tried to institute a step-change for the future of safety with this aircraft,” says Gensse. “Pilot workload is very low, which I think is a key point – especially for HEMS missions." 

Even after being in Australia for a relatively short period of time, the variability of the climate and geography left an impression with Gensse but he firmly believes that the H160 is the best option to respond to both of these challenges thanks to systems designed to prevent human error, even in the harshest Australian weather: “the pilot can really use the autopilot, for example, to recover and stabilise the helicopter, whatever the conditions and you even get a pre-alert [for vortex phenomenon] and if the pilot requires it, with only the press of one button, the autopilot will manage the situation."

A new standard for critical care

The demo tour allowed operators a futuristic glimpse of HEMS. Bigger cabins and smoother flights to help patients. A larger radius of operations to reach people who need help. Avionics which allow pilots to prioritise the patient. High availability that ensures the helicopter is always ready to answer the call. In Australia, where the landscape is rugged and challenges fierce, the H160 is ready to offer a lifesaving helping hand.