Gaddafi 'seen in Zimbabwe on Mugabe's private jet' as Libya rebels march on dictator's home town
The Daily Mail
Concern over treatment of detainees rises in Libya
The Boston Globe
Cuba and Why the U.S. Needs Its 'Nuclear' Balls Cut off
WorldNews.com
Hurricane Irene: Barack Obama warns effects will be 'felt for some time'
The Daily Telegraph
A liberated Libya remains haunted
Al Jazeera
The Eurocopter EC155 is a long-range medium-lift passenger transport helicopter developed by Eurocopter from the Dauphin family for civil aviation use. It is a twin-engined aircraft and can carry up to 13 passengers along with 1 or 2 crew, depending on customer configuration. The helicopter is marketed for passenger transport, offshore support, VIP corporate transport and casualty transport duties.
The EC155 B1 was developed with more powerful engines and has improved performance at high altitude and in hot temperature conditions. This derivative also features a higher maximum take-off weight (10,846 lb vs. 10,580 lb). Deliveries of this model began in November 2002 with the Hong Kong Government Flying Service becoming the first operator.
Eurocopter designed the EC155 originally with three configurations, however, another two configurations were added in 2005. The Passenger Transport version can carry 12 passengers in comfort seats or 13 passengers in utility seats, along with 1 or 2 crew. The VIP or Corporate Transport version has a VIP lounge with working space accommodating up to 8 executives. The Casualty Transport version can carry 2 stretchered patients with up to 4 seated medical staff, or 4 patients on stretchers plus 2 seated medical staff. The configurations added in 2005 were for Offshore operation and Police & Parapublic missions ranging from patrol, airborne surveillance, SAR and EMS, the helicopter being fitted with specific mission equipment for these duties.
; Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) - Four EC155 B1s used for offshore operations in the Caspian Sea/
;
; CITIC Offshore Helicopter Corporation - Two B1s in service to support an offshore platform in the South China Sea. The two helicopters were purchased for US$24.7 million in 2004. Shanghai Public Security Bureau - One ordered in 2007, to be used for police air patrol and reconnaissance missions in Shanghai.
; DanCopter - Six B1s in service for offshore operations.
; Bundespolizei (German Federal Police) - 15 in service.
; :Hong Kong Government Flying Service - Four out of five B1s delivered in service.
; Toho Air Service - One B in service for news gathering of Fuji Television. Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department - One B1 in service.
;
; Bristow Helicopters - Six in service for offshore operations for Shell Nigeria, aircraft also have external life rafts and are equipped for SAR duties.
;
; Royal Thai Police - 2 EC155 B1s in service in a VIP configuration.
; University of Michigan Survival Flight has ordered 3 EC155's for HEMS duty, to replace their current fleet of 3 Bell helicopters.
Category:French civil utility aircraft 1990-1999 Category:Helicopters Category:Search and Rescue helicopter
This text is licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-SA License. This text was originally published on Wikipedia and was developed by the Wikipedia community.
