Nova Scotia renews helicopter fleet with Airbus H125 order

The government of Nova Scotia has placed an order for four Airbus H125 helicopters as part of a complete fleet renewal for the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables.

These aircraft will support rapid responses to wildfires, search and rescue operations, emergency and personnel transportation in remote areas, and aerial surveillance.

“Emergencies like wildfires are becoming more and more prevalent because of climate change. That’s why we’re doing all we can to be prepared, including upgrading our fleet of helicopters. The Airbus H125s have served us well in fighting wildfires and for other uses,” said Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables.

“It’s an honour that the province of Nova Scotia has once again chosen Airbus to support the vital missions of the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables. With wildfires becoming an increasing threat across Canada, helicopters like the H125 play an essential role in protecting our natural resources and ensuring swift action in critical situations,” said Dwayne Charette, President of Airbus Helicopters in Canada. “We deeply value their continued trust in Airbus and look forward to supporting their important work.”

The Department previously received four Airbus H125 helicopters in 2016, and the decision to place this new order highlights their satisfaction with the aircraft’s versatility and performance in meeting their mission requirements. The new helicopters will be customised with various Canadian-designed supplemental type certificates (STCs) and optional equipment, including battery relocation, high-visibility doors, squirrel cheek cargo pods, longline release with a 50 AMP plug, cargo mirrors, an enlarged floor window, a cable cutter, litter kit, airframe fuel filter, blade tie-down kit and an optimised utility panel.

The H125 is renowned for its exceptional performance, manoeuvrability and capability in hot and high environments. Its flat cabin floor and wide range of optional equipment and STCs allow for quick reconfiguration to suit various missions, including aerial work, firefighting, law enforcement, rescue, air ambulance, and passenger transport. The H125 family comprises over one-third of the Airbus in-service fleet globally, with nearly 1,500 in North America alone and is part of the Ecureuil family, which has accumulated over 40 million flight hours worldwide.