The helicopter was significantly updated in the s with first a fenestron replacing the traditional tail rotor, followed later by a 5-blade main rotor head. The H is a twin-engine aircraft and can carry up to nine passengers along with two crew, depending on customer configuration. The helicopter is marketed for passenger transport, corporate transport, emergency medical services EMS , search and rescue , parapublic and utility roles.
Military variants of the helicopter have also been produced under various designations, such as HM or UH , and have been used for training, logistics, medical evacuation, reconnaissance, light attack, and troop-transport operations.
Eurocopter and Kawasaki have an agreement to independently manufacture and market the rotorcraft, while working collaboratively on development and upgrades. Considerable differences and improvements were introduced to the cockpit and aircraft subsystems, including the adoption of increasingly digital avionics and a fully modular approach to these systems; amongst the biggest changes is a sophisticated 4-axis autopilot.
The system, designed to plug into the EC's existing avionics, is capable of autonomous operation or alternatively being controlled by human operators either via the cockpit or from a ground control station. The technology, which is reported to be compatible with a number of Eurocopter's range of helicopters, is intended for both civil and military applications. In July , Airbus Helicopter launched the ECe , a lightened and lower cost version of the standard EC, achieved by the removal of some avionics for autopilot and single-pilot IFR functions.
Intended as a basic model for tasks such as aerial firefighting and utility work, it has been also viewed as a replacement for aging MBB Bo rotorcraft. In , Metro Aviation entered into an arrangement with Airbus Helicopters to offer various mission-specific customisations for the ECe and operate as a reseller for the variant.
