From the EC145 up to the EC225, Eurocopter offers a wide range of helicopters capable of performing search and rescue (SAR) missions. Customers can find solutions for every mission and for every budget.

Questions abound when it comes to deciding on the right helicopter for SAR work: What type of missions will the helicopter be used for? And how much will it cost? Will the helicopter be flying over sea or land? Close to the coast or far out to sea? Will it be used day and night, in all weather conditions?
As these questions clearly illustrate, search and rescue needs can vary a great deal from one customer to the next. But in-depth analysis has revealed some common trends: “We know that 90% of SAR missions at sea are flown within 50 nautical miles of the coast,” explains Jérôme Combe, who is in charge of the SAR segment at Eurocopter. “And only 3% of missions require a helicopter that can fly more than 200 nautical miles. Helicopters such as the AS365 N3 Dauphin and the EC145 are therefore the perfect choices in most cases. Certain countries have special geographical conditions however, and require more powerful aircraft like the EC175 or EC225.”
The flight endurance a helicopter can offer is obviously a key factor, as is its carrying capacity. In Great Britain, for example, 97% of SAR needs at sea can be covered by a helicopter capable of carrying six passengers. One point may seem obvious but should still be kept in mind: Choosing a SAR helicopter is always a compromise between performance levels and actual needs. One of the strengths of Eurocopter is to offer an extremely diverse range of helicopters adapted to each situation.

The EC145: SAR CapabilitiesAccessible to Everyone
The EC145 is currently the best compromise available for missions over land and within 100 nautical miles of the shore. Its carrying capacity (4 to 6 victims), equipment (hoist, weather radar, etc.) and its design (a large, open cabin space; a high rotor with a small diameter; wide doors) make it the perfect choice for both rescue and public safety missions. Mr. Combe sums the helicopter up this way: “The EC145 can cover about 85% of SAR needs both day and night over land, and up to 100 nautical miles off the coast during the day.”

The AS365 N3 Dauphin: Rescue at Sea, Both Day and Night
In the medium helicopter category, Eurocopter offers the AS365 N3 Dauphin, which can perform flights at sea both day and night. It is currently the reference for many operators providing rescue services, including the extremely prestigious US Coast Guard. “A big plus offered by the Dauphin is its extremely sophisticated autopilot, which can automatically perform transitions from cruise flight to hover flight,” stresses Mr. Combe. “This is an essential flight system for flying night SAR missions at sea.” When fitted with auxiliary tanks, the AS365 N3 Dauphin offers 4 hours and 30 minutes of flight endurance, which translates into a radius of action of 150 nautical miles for the rescue of 4 to 6 people. The Dauphin is also qualified for deck takeoffs in rough seas (50 knots of wind and 8° of roll).

The EC175: Taking it Up a Notch
The EC175, whose SAR version could enter into service by 2014, will offer even greater capacities. It will have the same 24-hour capabilities as the Dauphin, but with even more cabin space, meaning that a full set of medical equipment can be carried onboard. “You could say the EC175 will be the Swiss Army Knife in our range!” suggests Mr. Combe. “It will offer true multi-role capabilities over a range of 100 to 150 nautical miles, and at a much lower cost than the helicopters in the heavier category.” With its cabin that can hold 16 people, and more powerful engines, the EC175 would be able to rescue all the occupants of a helicopter in the Dauphin class during a SAR mission at sea. This is a powerful illustration of its impressive new capacities.

The NH90: Excellent SAR Capabilities The NH90 and the EC225/EC725 family are the top of the Eurocopter range for performing long-distance SAR missions in all weather conditions. The NH90 is the reference for tactical military transport, and offers excellent SAR capabilities as well (see article).

The EC225/EC725: The World’s Best Autopilot
The EC225/EC725 family was developed with the French Air Force specifically for combat SAR missions. The EC725 and its civil version, the EC225, are equipped with the most high-performance autopilot in the world, which can be used to perform hoisting operations in automatic hover flight with unequalled precision and stability over land and also at sea. The EC225 has many other features that make it the reference on the market for this mission segment. It offers low operating costs and high availability two absolute musts for oil & gas operators. Its modular cabin can quickly be changed from a passenger transport to a SAR configuration, and its outstanding endurance means it can be used to rescue 25 people at distances of up to 250 nautical miles when equipped with auxiliary fuel tanks.