The Airbus Helicopters H125, previously the Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil, or Squirrel, is a single-engine light utility helicopter designed and originally manufactured by the French corporation

Aérospatiale Aérospatiale () was a major French state-owned aerospace manufacturer, aerospace and arms industry, defence corporation. It was founded in 1970 as () through the merger of three established state-owned companies: Sud Aviation, Nord Aviation ...

, and later by

Eurocopter Airbus Helicopters SAS (formerly Eurocopter S.A., trade name, trading as Eurocopter Group) is the helicopter manufacturer, helicopter manufacturing division of Airbus. It is the largest in the industry in terms of revenues and turbine helicopte ...

, now Airbus Helicopters. In North America, the H125 is marketed as the AStar. The AS355 Ecureuil 2 is a twin-engine variant, marketed in North America as the TwinStar. The Eurocopter EC130 is a derivative of the AS350 airframe and is considered by the manufacturer to be part of the Écureuil single-engine family.

Development

In the early 1970s, Aérospatiale initiated a development program to produce a replacement for the aging

Aérospatiale Alouette II The Aérospatiale Alouette II (, "lark"; company designations SE 313 and SA 318) is a French light helicopter originally manufactured by Sud Aviation and later Aérospatiale. It was the first production helicopter powered by a gas turbine e ...

. While the

Aérospatiale Gazelle The Aérospatiale Gazelle (company designations SA 340, SA 341 and SA 342) is a five-seat helicopter developed and initially produced by the French aircraft company Sud Aviation, and later by Aérospatiale. It is the first helicopter to feature ...

, which had been developed in the 1960s and 1970s, had been met with numerous orders by military customers, commercial sales of the type had been less than anticipated, thus the need for a civil-oriented development was identified. The development of the new rotorcraft, which was headed by Chief Engineer René Mouille, was focused on the production of an economic and cost-effective aerial vehicle, thus both Aérospatiale's Production and Procurement departments were heavily involved in the design process. One such measure was the use of a rolled sheet structure, a manufacturing technique adapted from the

automotive industry The automotive industry comprises a wide range of company, companies and organizations involved in the design, Business development, development, manufacturing, marketing, selling, Maintenance, repairing, and Custom car, modification of motor ve ...

; another innovation was the newly developed ''Starflex'' main rotor. It was also decided that both civil and military variants of the emergent helicopter would be developed to conform with established military requirements."1974: AS350/355 Ecureuil/AStar- AS550/555 Fennec – EC130."
''Eurocopter'', Retrieved: 25 December 2015. On 27 June 1974, the first prototype, an AS350C powered by a Lycoming LTS101

turboshaft A turboshaft engine is a form of gas turbine that is optimized to produce shaft horsepower rather than jet thrust. In concept, turboshaft engines are very similar to turbojets, with additional turbine expansion to extract heat energy from the ex ...

engine, conducted its maiden flight at

Marignane Marignane (; ) is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southern France. Geography It is a component of the Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis, and the largest suburb of the city of Marsei ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

; the second prototype, powered by a Turbomeca Arriel 1A, following on 14 February 1975.Jackson 2003, p. 244. The Arriel-powered version, the AS350B, intended for sale throughout the world except for North America, was

certified Certification is part of testing, inspection and certification and the provision by an independent body of written assurance (a certificate) that the product, service or system in question meets specific requirements. It is the formal attestatio ...

in France on 27 October 1977, while the Lycoming powered AS350C (or AStar) was certified by the US

Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a Federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government agency within the United States Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation that regulates civil aviation in t ...

on 21 December 1977. In March 1978, deliveries to customers began for the AS350B, deliveries of the AS350C began in April 1978.Taylor 1982, p. 56. Over time, the AS350 Écureuil/AStar has received further development; while the aircraft's design remains broadly similar, aspects such as the rotor system, powerplants, and avionics have been progressively improved. On 6 February 1987, a prototype AS350 flew with a fenestron tail-rotor in the place of its conventional counterpart. On 1 March 1997, the first AS350 B3, equipped with an Arriel 2B engine, performed its first flight. Conversion programs and addons for AS350s have been produced and are offered by third-party 'aftermarket' aerospace firms in addition to those available directly from the type's prime manufacturer. Variants of the Arriel-powered AS350B, AS350 BA, AS350 B1, AS350 B2, and AS350 B3, were progressively introduced; the later B3 differing from preceding models by the increasing use of digital systems, such as the

Garmin Garmin Ltd. is an American multinational technology company based in Olathe, Kansas. The company designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes GPS-enabled products and other navigation, communication, sensor-based, and information ...

-built G500H avionics suite and

FADEC A full authority digital engine (or electronics) control (FADEC) is a system consisting of a digital computer, called an "electronic engine controller" (EEC) or " engine control unit" (ECU), and its related accessories that control all aspects of a ...

engine control system.Lombardi, Frank
"AStar Evolution.
", ''Aviation Today'', 12 May 2015. Prior to 2013, the type had been manufactured principally at Eurocopter's Marignane facility, near

Marseille Marseille (; ; see #Name, below) is a city in southern France, the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Bouches-du-Rhône and of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region. Situated in the ...

, France; Eurocopter opted to, as part of a move to disperse its helicopter production activities, begin AS350 production and final assembly activities at its factory in Columbus, Mississippi, for deliveries to U.S. commercial helicopter market. The Astar has been Eurocopter's biggest-selling product in the US commercial market, at one point selling roughly one AS350 every business day. In March 2015, the first Columbus-assembled AS350 B3e received its FAA certification. In December 2015, Airbus Helicopters reported their intention to double the rate of AS350 production at Columbus in 2016 over the previous year, and that the facility is capable of producing up to 65 AS350s per year. The H125 Final Assembly Line (FAL) in

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

, intended to serve both the local and export markets, will be introduced by Airbus with Tata Advanced Systems. The first Made in India helicopter with EASA-certified quality assurance will be delivered in 2026. Ten helicopters will be manufactured each year at final assembly, with the number of units produced gradually increasing to 20, 30, or 50 in the future. As of July 202400 units is expected to be produced in 20 years. The H125 base variant produced in India, will cost above euro 3.2 million. Airbus has reportedly identified 8 locations to become potential sites for the FAL. The groundbreaking ceremony will be held by year-end. The H125's engine and gearbox will come from France, the main airframe from Germany, and the tail boom from Spain, according to reports. On 23 July 2024, TASL and Airbus signed the deal for production. By 18 January 2025, four sites (in

Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...

Gujarat Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the List of states and union territories ...

Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (ISO 15919, ISO: , , AP) is a States and union territories of India, state on the East Coast of India, east coast of southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, seventh-largest state and th ...

and

Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...

) were shortlisted to establish the FAL facility and the final site is to be announced soon. As per a report, "The H125's engine and gearbox will come from France, the main airframe from Germany, and the tail boom from Spain". The component assemblies to be done in India include avionics and mission systems, flight controls, hydraulic circuits, fuel system and the engine. As of 27 May 2025, the Vemgal Industrial Area of Kolar, Karnataka has reportedly been recognised as the location of the intended Final Assembly Line. An existing facility of TASL in the location also hosts a satellite manufacturing plant.

Anantapur Anantapur, officially Anantapuramu, is a city in Anantapur district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is the mandal headquarters of Anantapuru Tehsil, mandal and also the divisional headquarters of Anantapur revenue division. The city ...

was also considered for the project, but it was ultimately rejected in favour of Kokar, which offered a well-established ancillary support ecosystem and an existing TASL hub.

Design

The AS350 is a single engine helicopter, powered either by a Lycoming LTS101 or Turbomeca Arriel powerplant (for twin-engined variants, see Eurocopter AS355), that drives a three-

blade A blade is the Sharpness (cutting), sharp, cutting portion of a tool, weapon, or machine, specifically designed to puncture, chop, slice, or scrape surfaces or materials. Blades are typically made from materials that are harder than those they a ...

main rotor, which is furnished with a ''Starflex'' rotor head. The type is known for its high-altitude performance and has seen use by operators in such environments. Both the main and tail rotors make use of composite material and are designed to minimize corrosion and maintenance requirements. The AS350 was also developed to comply with the noise requirements in place in locations such as

national park A national park is a nature park designated for conservation (ethic), conservation purposes because of unparalleled national natural, historic, or cultural significance. It is an area of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that is protecte ...

s; the in-cabin noise levels are such that passengers may also readily converse during flight. The aircraft can also be quickly started up and shut down, which is often useful during

emergency medical services Emergency medical services (EMS), also known as ambulance services, pre-hospital care or paramedic services, are emergency services that provide urgent pre-hospital treatment and stabilisation for serious illness and injuries and transport to d ...

roles. It is equipped with

hydraulic Hydraulics () is a technology and applied science using engineering, chemistry, and other sciences involving the mechanical properties and use of liquids. At a very basic level, hydraulics is the liquid counterpart of pneumatics, which concer ...

ally-assisted flight controls; these controls remain operational, albeit operated with greater physical effort, in the event of a hydraulic failure. Much of the AS350's avionics are provided by

, such as the GI 106A course-deviation indicator, GNS 430 VHF/VOR/localizer/glideslope indicator/

Global Positioning System The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based hyperbolic navigation system owned by the United States Space Force and operated by Mission Delta 31. It is one of the global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) that provide ge ...

receiver, GTX 327 Mode A and C transponder, and GMA 340H intercom.Stephens, Ernie, and James T. McKenna
"The AS350 — Versatility and Power.
", ''Rotor & Wing'', 1 June 2007. The Vehicle and Engine Multifunction Display (VEMD) and the First Limit Indicator (FLI) both serve to increase the aircraft's safety during flight, reducing the number of gauges that need to be monitored by the pilot and thereby reducing their workload. For increased smoothness in flight, which positively affects passenger comfort as well as safety, stability augmentation systems can be installed. Later-production aircraft feature new avionics and systems such as the integration of an Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) and autopilot, a

glass cockpit A glass cockpit is an aircraft cockpit that features an array of electronic (digital) flight instrument display device, displays, typically large liquid-crystal display, LCD screens, rather than traditional Analog device, analog dials and gauges ...

featuring three

liquid-crystal display A liquid-crystal display (LCD) is a flat-panel display or other Electro-optic modulator, electronically modulated optical device that uses the light-modulating properties of liquid crystals combined with polarizers to display information. Liq ...

s (LCDs) and digital avionics, such as the synthetic-vision terrain mapping system and Airbus's ''Multibloc'' center console upon which radios may be mounted."Eurocopter's Helibras Subsidiary to Modernize 36 AS350 Ecureuil Helicopters Operated by the Brazilian Army Aviation Command.
", ''Helicopter Maintenance Magazine'', 1 February 2011. The AS350 has proven popular in a range of roles; multiple cabin configurations can be used, between four and six passengers in a typical seating configuration, and large sliding doors can be fitted to either side of the cabin. In some operators' fleets, the furnishings of the cabin has been designed to enable the internal space and/or equipment fit-out to be rapidly reconfigured to enable aircraft to be switched between roles. Public service operators, such as those in

law enforcement Law enforcement is the activity of some members of the government or other social institutions who act in an organized manner to enforce the law by investigating, deterring, rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the rules and norms gove ...

, often have

forward looking infrared Forward-looking infrared (FLIR) cameras, typically used on military and civilian aircraft, use a thermographic camera that senses infrared radiation. The sensors installed in forward-looking infrared cameras, as well as those of other thermal ...

(FLIR) cameras and other mission systems installed on their aircraft. Other optional equipment on offer to operates had included real-time

data link A data link is a means of telecommunications link, connecting one location to another for the purpose of transmitting and receiving digital information (data communication). It can also refer to a set of electronics assemblies, consisting of a t ...

s, rescue hoists, underslung cargo hooks, electrical external

mirror A mirror, also known as a looking glass, is an object that Reflection (physics), reflects an image. Light that bounces off a mirror forms an image of whatever is in front of it, which is then focused through the lens of the eye or a camera ...

s, search lights, tactical consoles, night vision goggle-compatibility, moving-map system, internal cabin tie-downs, second battery kit, sand filters,

wire strike protection system The wire strike protection system (WSPS) is a mechanical wire cutter designed to mitigate the risk of wire strikes while flying helicopters at low level. History Between 1974 and 1979 wire strike accidents accounted for 8% of United States Army ...

, 4-channel radio, tail rotor arch, cabin floor windows, and removable seats."Civil: H125."
''Airbus Helicopters'', 2015. 210908-H-NI589-026

Modern aircraft have refinements beyond those featuring on older models; these changes include dual-channel

-equipped engines, increasing use of digital avionics in the cockpit, decreased maintenance costs, a re-designed cabin, and a comfortable ''Stylence'' interior (optional). Older aircraft often undergo refurbishment programs to install aftermarket features, or for the addition of functionality common to newer production aircraft, such as retrofitting of the glass cockpit.

Operational history

On 14 May 2005, an AS350 B3 piloted by Eurocopter test pilot Didier Delsalle touched down on the top of

Mount Everest Mount Everest (), known locally as Sagarmatha in Nepal and Qomolangma in Tibet, is Earth's highest mountain above sea level. It lies in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas and marks part of the China–Nepal border at it ...

, at , a record that has been confirmed by the

Fédération Aéronautique Internationale The World Air Sports Federation (; FAI) is the world governing body for air sports, and also stewards definitions regarding human spaceflight. It was founded on 14 October 1905, and is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland. It maintains worl ...

.FAI Record ID #11596 – Highest take-off
" ''

(FAI).'' Retrieved: 20 September 2014. Although Delsalle used a standard version of the Eurocopter, he removed unnecessary elements, such as passenger seats, to reduce the standard weight by 120 kg and increase the fuel range by an additional hour. On 29 April 2010, a stripped-down AS350 B3 rescued three Spanish alpinists, one at a time, from the slopes of Annapurna I, Nepal at an altitude of ; this set a new record for the highest such rescue. The record was increased to , during the rescue of Sudarshan Gautam between Camps III & IV in Everest's Yellow Band on the morning of 20 May 2013. On 2 June 2014, an AS350 B3e broke a national record in Mexico by successfully landing on the peak of

Pico de Orizaba Citlaltépetl (from Nahuan languages, Náhuatl = star, and = mountain), otherwise known as Pico de Orizaba, is an active volcano, the highest mountain in Mexico and Table of the highest major summits of North America, third highest in North Ame ...

, at , the nation's tallest mountain. The AS350 AStar has been successful in the US market, having become the most popular helicopter platform in use with American governmental agencies,

being a typical use of the type, by 2015. By 1999, the AS350 had become the prime helicopter being used by the

United States Customs Service The United States Customs Service was a federal law enforcement agency of the U.S. federal government. Established on July 31, 1789, it collected import tariffs, performed other selected border security duties, as well as conducted criminal in ...

for light enforcement operations; by 2007, the agency had become the single largest operator of the type in the world. By 2012, out of the 3,300 AS350s in operation across the world, 783 of them were in service with American-based operators. In the Russian market since 2006, the AS350 and other helicopters built by the manufacturer have been sold and supported by wholly owned subsidiary ''Eurocopter Vostok''; UTair Aviation soon emerged as the largest Russian operator of the AS350 B3e with a fleet of at least 20 of the type. In December 2014,

EASA The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is an agency of the European Commission with responsibility for civil aviation safety in the European Union. It carries out certification, regulation and standardisation and also performs inve ...

validation was issued for Airbus Helicopters China to conduct training and support activity at their facility in

Shenzhen Shenzhen is a prefecture-level city in the province of Guangdong, China. A Special economic zones of China, special economic zone, it is located on the east bank of the Pearl River (China), Pearl River estuary on the central coast of Guangdong ...

, China; various components of the AS350 (such as the main and tail gearboxes) are now maintained locally. On 9 September 2015, China's first helicopter leasing company, CM International Financial Leasing Corp Ltd (CMIFL), placed an order for 100 Ecureuil-series helicopters, these are to be a mix of H125 and H130 helicopters. Brazil has been an extensive operator of the AS350; by 2011 more than 300 helicopters were operating in the country, including from the flight deck of the Brazilian aircraft carrier São Paulo. Since 1984, the

Brazilian Navy The Brazilian Navy () is the navy, naval service branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces, responsible for conducting naval warfare, naval operations. The navy was involved in War of Independence of Brazil#Naval action, Brazil's war of independence ...

has used AS350s to support the

Brazilian Antarctic Program The Brazilian Antarctic Program (; PROANTAR) is a program of the Brazilian Navy which has presence in the continent of Antarctica. It coordinates research and the operational support for research in the region. It currently maintains a year-round ...

. Helibras, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eurocopter, operates in the country; of the 600 helicopters it had domestically manufactured for the Brazilian market by 2012, 70% were AS350s. In January 2011, Helibras signed a contract with the Brazilian Army to substantially upgrade and refurbish their existing fleet of 36 AS350 Ecureuils. In the United Kingdom, the Defence Helicopter Flying School operated 26 AS350, designated ''Squirrel HT1'', for the training of pilots of Britain's armed forces; the type was introduced from 1997 onwards as a replacement for the

. In September 2014, the UK's

Ministry of Defence A ministry of defence or defense (see American and British English spelling differences#-ce.2C -se, spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and Mi ...

issued a request for proposals to replace the Squirrel HT1; Airbus Helicopters has already announced its intention to offer a mixed fleet of Eurocopter EC130s and

Eurocopter EC135 The Airbus Helicopters H135, formerly Eurocopter EC135, is a twin-engine civil light utility helicopter produced by Airbus Helicopters. It is capable of flight under instrument flight rules (IFR) and is outfitted with a digital automatic flig ...

s in response. Since May 1984, the

Royal Australian Navy The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the navy, naval branch of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (Australia), Chief of Navy (CN) Vice admiral (Australia), Vice Admiral Mark Hammond (admiral), Ma ...

Fleet Air Arm The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) is the naval aviation component of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy (RN). The FAA is one of five :Fighting Arms of the Royal Navy, RN fighting arms. it is a primarily helicopter force, though also operating the Lockhee ...

has operated a fleet of AS350s, these were upgraded to the AS350 BA standard in 1995; the

Royal Australian Air Force The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the principal Air force, aerial warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army. Constitutionally the Governor-Gener ...

had previously operated the AS350 for training purposes, and briefly for

search and rescue Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, typically determined by the type of terrain the search ...

missions, but these were later transferred to the

Australian Army The Australian Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of Australia. It is a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Army is commanded by the Chief of Army ...

. In 2017, the AS350 was retired from Australian Navy service. Between June 2007 and December 2007, the Danish Air Force operated a deployment of four AS350 helicopters at Basra International Airport,

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

, to perform liaison and reconnaissance missions in support of coalition forces during the

Iraq War The Iraq War (), also referred to as the Second Gulf War, was a prolonged conflict in Iraq lasting from 2003 to 2011. It began with 2003 invasion of Iraq, the invasion by a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition, which ...

. In June 2015, the Argentine Defense Ministry ordered 12 H125s to replace their 1970s era Aérospatiale SA 315B Lamas for para-public support missions, such as search and rescue operations, inside Argentina. By June 2020, 3,663 H125 were operational, the largest number of any type. In June 1978,

Transport Canada Transport Canada () is the Ministry (government department), department within the Government of Canada responsible for developing regulations, Policy, policies and Public services, services of road, rail, marine and air Transport in Canada, tra ...

(TC) issued the Canadian

type certificate A type certificate signifies the airworthiness of a particular category of aircraft, according to its manufacturing design (''type design''). Certification confirms that the aircraft of a new type intended for serial production is in compliance w ...

for the AS 350 C model, marking it as the first of the AS 350 series certified in Canada. The AS 350 B was added to the

's data sheet in February 1980, and the AS 350 B1 received certification from TC in July 1988. AS350s are widely utilized in Canada for fire suppression and mountain operations. This versatile helicopter is frequently equipped with a

Bambi Bucket A helicopter bucket or helibucket is a specialized bucket suspended on a Wire rope, cable carried by a helicopter to deliver water for aerial firefighting. The design of the buckets allows the helicopter to hover over a water source—such as a ...

, capable of carrying up to 1,500 liters of water, making it an effective tool for

aerial firefighting Aerial firefighting, also known as waterbombing, is the use of aircraft and other aerial resources to Wildfire suppression, combat wildfires. The types of aircraft used include fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Smokejumpers and rappellers ar ...

. The AS350's agility, power, and ability to operate in challenging terrains, such as dense forests and mountainous regions, make it invaluable for combating wildfires.

Variants

;AS350 :Prototype. ;AS350 Firefighter :Fire fighting version. ; :Powered by one Turbomeca Arriel 1B engine. ;AS350 B1 :Improved version of the original AS350B, which is powered by one Arriel 1D engine, type also fitted with AS355 main rotor blades, AS355 tail rotor with tabs and a tail rotor servo. ; :Higher gross weight version powered by one Arriel 1D1 engine over the B1 version with aerodynamic strake fitted to tail boom along the starboard side and angled engine exhaust duct for better yaw control. ; :High-performance version, is powered by an Arriel 2B engine equipped with a single channel Digital Engine Control Unit (DECU) with a mechanical backup system. This helicopter is the first ever to land on the summit of Mount Everest. AS350 B3/2B1 variant introduces enhanced engine with dual channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC), dual hydraulics and a 2,370 kg (5,225 lb) Maximum Take Off Weight. ; :AS350 B3e (introduced late 2011) equipped with the Arriel 2D engine producing 952 horsepower; AS350 B3e renamed H125. ; :Powered by an Arriel 1B engine and fitted with wider chord AS355 main rotor blades and tail rotor servo. ;AS350 BB :AS350 B2 variant selected to meet rotary-wing training needs of UK MoD, through its Defence Helicopter Flying School in 1996. Powered by a derated Arriel 1D1 engine to improve the helicopters' life cycle. ;Eurocopter Squirrel HT.1 :Designation of ''AS350BB'' formally operated by the British Military, through the Defence Helicopter Flying School as a training helicopter. ;Eurocopter Squirrel HT.2 :Designation of ''AS350BB'' formally operated by the British Army Air Corps as a training helicopter, based at Middle Wallop. Now retired. ;AS350 C :Initial variant of Lycoming LTS-101-600A2 powered version developed for the North American market as the ''AStar''. Quickly superseded by AS350D. ;AS350 D :Powered by one Lycoming LTS-101 engine for the North American market as the ''AStar''. At one stage marketed as AStar 'Mark III.' ;AS350 L1 :Military derivative of AS350 B1, powered by a 510kW (684shp) Turbomeca Arriel 1D turboshaft engine. Superseded by AS350 L2. ;AS350 L2 :Military derivative of AS350 B2, powered by a 546 kW (732shp) Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 turboshaft engine. Designation superseded by AS550 C2. ;HB350 B Esquilo :Unarmed military version for the

Brazilian Air Force The Brazilian Air Force (, FAB) is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Brazilian Brazilian Army Aviation (1919–1941), Army and Brazilian Naval Aviation, Nav ...

. Brazilian designations CH-50 and TH-50. Built under licence by Helibras in Brazil. ;HB350 B1 Esquilo :Unarmed military version for the

. Brazilian designation UH-12. Built under licence by Helibras in Brazil. ;HB350 L1 :Armed military version for the

Brazilian Army The Brazilian Army (; EB) is the branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces responsible, externally, for defending the country in eminently terrestrial operations and, internally, for guaranteeing law, order and the constitutional branches, subordina ...

. Brazilian designation HA-1. Built under licence by Helibras in Brazil. ;IH-18 :Brazilian Navy designation of the Airbus H125.

Aftermarket conversions

;Soloy SD1, Super D :AS350 BA, D powered by an LTS101-600A-3A engine. ;Soloy AllStar :AS350 BA powered by a Rolls-Royce 250-C30 engine. ;Soloy SD2 :AS350 B2 powered by an LTS101-700D-2 engine. An Airbus AS350 SD2 operated by Columbia Helicopters

An Airbus AS350 SD2 operated by Columbia Helicopters

;Heli-Lynx 350FX1 :AS350 BA powered by an LTS101-600A-3A engine. ;Heli-Lynx 350FX2 :AS350 BA or AS350 B2 powered by an LTS101-700D-2 engine. ;Otech AS350BA+ :AS350 BA powered by an LTS101-600A-3A engine.

Operators

The AS350 is in service around the world operated by private individuals, airline and charter operators, emergency medical teams, governments and law enforcement agencies.

Military and government operators

* Argentine National Gendarmerie * Buenos Aires Province Police * Austrian Federal Police ; *

Bolivian Air Force The Bolivian Air Force (BAF; or 'FAB') is the air force of Bolivia and branch of the Bolivian Armed Forces. History By 1938 the Bolivian air force consisted of about 60 aircraft ( Curtiss Hawk fighters, Curtiss T-32 Condor II and Junkers ...

* Botswana Defence Force Air Wing *

Brazilian Naval Aviation The Brazilian Naval Aviation () is the air component of the Brazilian Navy, currently called ''Força Aeronaval''. Most of its air structure is subordinated to the Naval Air Force Command (''Comando da Força Aeronaval'', ComForAerNav), the milita ...

* Ibama * São Paulo State Police * Military Brigade of Rio Grande do Sul * Minas Gerais State Police OCPD Air-One

* Burkina Faso Air Force * Royal Cambodian Air Force *

Calgary Police Service Calgary Police Service (CPS; ) is the municipal police service of the City of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is the largest municipal police service in Alberta and third largest municipal force in Canada behind the Toronto Police Service and the Mo ...

* Edmonton Police Service *

Royal Canadian Mounted Police The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP; , GRC) is the Law enforcement in Canada, national police service of Canada. The RCMP is an agency of the Government of Canada; it also provides police services under contract to 11 Provinces and terri ...

* Central African Republic Air Force * Chadian Air Force * Chilean Army *

Chilean Navy The Chilean Navy () is the naval warfare service branch of the Chilean Armed Forces. It is under the Ministry of National Defense (Chile), Ministry of National Defense. Its headquarters are at Edificio Armada de Chile, Valparaiso. History Ori ...

Royal Danish Air Force The Royal Danish Air Force () (RDAF) is the aerial warfare force of the Kingdom of Denmark and one of the four branches of the Danish Armed Forces. Initially being components of the Army and the Navy, it was made a separate service in 1950. I ...

Ecuadorian Army The Ecuadorian Army () is the land component of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces. Its 25,650 active soldiers are deployed in relation to its military doctrine. The contemporary Ecuadorian Army incorporates many jungle and special forces infantry un ...

Egyptian Air Force The Egyptian Air Force (EAF) () is the aviation branch of the Egyptian Armed Forces that is responsible for all airborne defence missions and operates all military aircraft, including those used in support of the Egyptian Army, Egyptian Navy ...

* Gendarmerie Nationale * Gabonese Air Force * Ministry of Internal Affairs * Guatemalan Air Force ; *

Air Greenland Air Greenland Aktieselskab, A/S (formerly named Grønlandsfly and Greenlandair) is the flag carrier of Greenland, owned by the Naalakkersuisut, Greenlandic Government. It operates a fleet of 28 aircraft, including a single Airbus A330-800 airli ...

* Icelandic Coast Guard * Municipal Government of Mimika Regency *

Israel Police The Israel Police (; ) is the civilian police force of Israel. As with most other police forces in the world, its duties include crime fighting, traffic control, maintaining public safety, and counter-terrorism. It is under the jurisdiction o ...

Royal Jordanian Air Force The Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF; Arabic: سلاح الجو الملكي الأردني, ''Silāḥ al-Jaww al-Malakī al-ʾUrdunī'') is the aerial warfare branch of the Jordanian Armed Forces. Founded in 1955, the RJAF serves as the primary ...

* Kenya Air Force *

Lesotho Defence Force The Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) is the military of the Southern African Lesotho, Kingdom of Lesotho, which consists of about 2,000 personnel and is tasked with maintaining internal security, territorial integrity, and defending the constitution o ...

* Malagasy Air Force * Malawi Army Air Wing * Namibian Police Force * Nepalese Army Air Service * Pakistan Army Aviation * Paraguayan Air Force * Paraguayan Naval Aviation Sbc-sheriff-B3-N631SB-050915-01-16

Philippine National Police The Philippine National Police (PNP; ) is the national police force of the Philippines. Its national headquarters is located at Camp Crame in Bagong Lipunan ng Crame, Quezon City. Currently, it has approximately 228,000 personnel to police a pop ...

* Ministry of Internal Administration * Qatar Ministry of Defence *

Russian Aerospace Forces The Russian Aerospace Forces or Russian Air and Space Forces (VKS) comprise the air force, aerial, space force, space warfare, and Missile defense, missile defence Military branch, branches of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. It was ...

South African Police Service The South African Police Service (SAPS) is the national police force of the Republic of South Africa. Its 1,154 police stations in South Africa are divided according to the Provinces of South Africa, provincial borders, and a Provincial Commis ...

* South African National Parks Air Wing * Empire Test Pilots School * Texas DPS * Alaska State Troopers * Anaheim Police Department * Baltimore County Police Department *

California Highway Patrol The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is the principal state police agency for the U.S. state of California. The CHP has primary jurisdiction, including patrol and Criminal investigation, investigations, over all California Controlled-access highw ...

*East Flagler Mosquito Control District *

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD), officially the County of Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, is a law enforcement agency serving Los Angeles County, California. LASD is the largest sheriff's department in the United States a ...

Los Angeles Police Department The City of Los Angeles Police Department, commonly referred to as Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), is the primary law enforcement agency of Los Angeles, California, United States. With 8,832 officers and 3,000 civilian staff, it is the th ...

* Memphis Police Department * D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, both AS350B3 and H125 variants in use. *

New Mexico State Police The New Mexico State Police (NMSP) is the law enforcement agency of the U.S. state of New Mexico. Administered by the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, it has jurisdiction anywhere in the state, often working in tandem with local and federal ...

* Miami Police Department * Oakland County Sheriff's Office * Oklahoma City Police Department * Orange County Sheriff's Department *

Philadelphia Police Department The Philadelphia Police Department (PPD, Philly PD, or Philly Police) is the police agency responsible for law enforcement and investigations within the County and City of Philadelphia. The PPD is one of the oldest municipal police agencies, f ...

* San Diego Police Department * San Jose Police Department *

U.S. Customs and Border Protection United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the largest federal law enforcement agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security. It is the country's primary border control organization, charged with regulating and facilita ...

* Ministry of Internal Affairs ** Ukrainian Air Guard

Retired

* Defence Helicopter Flying School

Aircraft on display

Australia

*N22-001 – RAAF Museum, Point Cook. *N22-015 – The Fleet Air Arm Museum, Nowra. *N22-017 – The Australian War Memorial. *N22-018 – To serve as “Gate Guard”, HMAS Albatross. *N22-019 – Army Aviation Museum, Oakey.

France

*Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil F-WOEX at the Musee de l'Aviation Saint Victoret in Bouches-du-Rhon, France. This is the helicopter that Didier Delsalle landed on the summit of Mount Everest in May 2005

Philippines

* A

AS350BA with tail numbers RP-2041 on outdoor static Display at Fort Sto Domingo Sta Rosa, Laguna, Luzon, Philippines

Singapore

*Eurocopter AS350 at the Singapore Air Force Museum.

Notable accidents and incidents

*On 14 January 1986, the AS-350 used by

Dakar Rally The Dakar Rally () or simply "The Dakar" (), formerly known as the Paris–Dakar Rally (), is an annual rally raid organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO). It is an off-road endurance event traversing terrain much tougher than convent ...

organiser Thierry Sabine as his personal transport during the event, crashed into a sand dune in

Mali Mali, officially the Republic of Mali, is a landlocked country in West Africa. It is the List of African countries by area, eighth-largest country in Africa, with an area of over . The country is bordered to the north by Algeria, to the east b ...

. The helicopter had just taken off again after it had been forced to land in the desert by a sudden sandstorm. All five on board were killed. Among the victims were Thierry Sabine, French singer-songwriter Daniel Balavoine and pilot François-Xavier Bagnoud. *On February 22, 1995, Massachusetts State Police helicopter N20SP carrying two troopers and two AT&T engineers crashed into the yacht club building. All on board died in the crash, which was attributed to significant operating deficiencies within the Police Air Wing which allowed contamination of the fuel bunker to go undetected. *On 9 June 1999, a Coastal Helicopters Inc. AS-350BA (N6099S) crashed on the Herbert Glacier (20 miles north of Juneau, Alaska) killing all seven on board. The cause of the crash was the pilot's continued VFR flight in adverse weather, spatial disorientation, and failure to maintain aircraft control. At the time it was the deadliest accident involving the AS-350. *On 19 October 2001, a

AS 350B medical helicopter suffered a mechanical failure and crashed during a training exercise, killing officers Damon Talbott and Ramon Robert Solis. *On 27 July 2007, two AS-350 AStar helicopters from television stations KNXV-TV and KTVK collided in mid-air over

Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, it is the ...

, while covering a police pursuit. * On 15 September 2007, former

World Rally Championship The World Rally Championship (abbreviated as WRC) is an international rallying series owned and governed by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, FIA. Inaugurated in 1973, it is the oldest FIA world championship after Formula One. E ...

driver Colin McRae and three passengers were killed when his AS350 B2 Squirrel, which he was piloting, crashed near

Lanark Lanark ( ; ; ) is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, located 20 kilometres to the south-east of Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Hamilton. The town lies on the River Clyde, at its confluence with Mouse Water. In 2016, the town had a populatio ...

, Scotland. * On 8 August 2009, a Piper PA-32R collided with an AS350 over the

Hudson River The Hudson River, historically the North River, is a river that flows from north to south largely through eastern New York (state), New York state. It originates in the Adirondack Mountains at Henderson Lake (New York), Henderson Lake in the ...

, with both aircraft crashing into the Hudson River. There were no survivors. * On 10 June 2012, an AS350 B3e belonging to the Kenya Police Air Wing crashed in Kibiku area in Ngong Forest, west of Nairobi, Kenya, killing at least six people, including Kenya's Interior Security Minister

George Saitoti George Musengi Saitoti, State Commendations of Kenya, E.G.H. (3 August 1945 – 10 June 2012) was a Kenyan politician, businessman and American- and British-trained economist, mathematician and development policy thinker. As a mathematician, ...

and his deputy Orwa Ojode. *On March 30, 2013, an Alaska State Troopers AS350 B3 N911AA impacted terrain while maneuvering during a search and rescue flight near Talkeetna, Alaska. All three onboard died. * On 7 June 2014, a Helibrás HB-350BA crashed after takeoff, in Aruanã, Goiás state, Brazil. All on board died, including retired football player Fernandão. * On 9 March 2015, two AS350 B3 collided mid air in

La Rioja Province, Argentina La Rioja (), officially Province of La Rioja is a province of Argentina located in the west of the country. The landscape of the province consists of a series of arid to semi-arid mountain ranges and agricultural valleys in between. It is in one ...

, killing all 10 people on board both aircraft. The passengers, including a number of French athletes, were participants in the filming of French reality television program ''Dropped''. * On 21 November 2015, an AS350BA, registration ZK-HKU, crashed near Fox Glacier,

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

, killing all seven people on board a tourist flight. The weather at the time was poor, with low-lying cloud and snow falling near the crash site. The investigation by the New Zealand TAIC revealed that the pilot encountered extremely poor visibility during the descent phase of the flight causing CFIT. * On 5 May 2016, an AS350 registered as RP-C 6828 crashed in Sebuyau,

Sarawak Sarawak ( , ) is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia. It is the largest among the 13 states, with an area almost equal to that of Peninsular Malaysia. Sarawak is located in East Malaysia in northwest Borneo, and is ...

killing all six people including Malaysia Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Noriah Kasnon and her husband, and Member of Parliament for

Kuala Kangsar Kuala Kangsar (Perak Malay: ) is the royal town of Perak, Malaysia. It is located at the downstream of Kangsar River where it joins the Perak River, approximately northwest of Ipoh, Perak's capital, and southeast of George Town, Penang, Ge ...

, Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar. * On 11 March 2018, an AS350 N350LH operated by Liberty Helicopters carrying six people (five passengers and a pilot) crashed into New York City's East River after reportedly suffering engine failure. All five passengers were confirmed dead after the aircraft submerged upside down into the water. The pilot was able to free himself and was rescued by a nearby tugboat. * On 27 February 2019, an Air Dynasty AS350 B3e helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff in Taplejung,

Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...

, killing all seven people on board, including Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Rabindra Adhikari. * On 31 August 2019, an AS350 crashed in the mountains of Skoddevarre in

Alta Municipality Alta (; ; ; ) is the most populated List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Finnmark Counties of Norway, county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the Alta (town), town of Alta. Some of the main villages in the ...

in northern

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...

, killing all six occupants. In response to the accident, Airbus made crash-resistant fuel systems part of the standard kit for the aircraft on 1 October. * On 7 March 2021, an AS350 carrying billionaire French politician and industrialist Olivier Dassault crashed on takeoff near

Deauville Deauville () is a communes of France, commune in the Calvados (department), Calvados department, Normandy (administrative region), Normandy, northwestern France. Major attractions include its port, harbour, Race track, race course, marinas, con ...

(

Normandy Normandy (; or ) is a geographical and cultural region in northwestern Europe, roughly coextensive with the historical Duchy of Normandy. Normandy comprises Normandy (administrative region), mainland Normandy (a part of France) and insular N ...

) with no survivors. * On 27 March 2021, an AS350 carrying Czech billionaire

Petr Kellner Petr Kellner (20 May 1964 – 27 March 2021) was a Czech billionaire entrepreneur, the founder and majority shareholder (98.93%) of the PPF Group. At the time of his death, he had an estimated net worth of $17.5 billion, making him the wealthi ...

crashed at Knik Glacier (

Alaska Alaska ( ) is a non-contiguous U.S. state on the northwest extremity of North America. Part of the Western United States region, it is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, alongside Hawaii. Alaska is also considered to be the north ...

), killing five. * On February 21, 2022 a

H125 serial RP-9710 crashes in Real, Quezon with 1 Casualty on the way to Balesin Resort to pick up then PNP chief Dionardo Carlos. GSIS pays P232 million insurance claim for PNP chopper crash in Real, Quezon. * On 1 November 2022, an AS350 B3 operated by Midtnorsk Helikopterservice crashed just outside the centre of

Verdal Municipality Verdal is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Trøndelag Counties of Norway, county, Norway. It is part of the Innherad Districts of Norway, region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the List of towns and cities in ...

Trøndelag Trøndelag (; or is a county and coextensive with the Trøndelag region (also known as ''Midt-Norge'' or ''Midt-Noreg,'' "Mid-Norway") in the central part of Norway. It was created in 1687, then named Trondhjem County (); in 1804 the county was ...

. Two people died, and one person, the pilot, survived. * On 20 December 2023, an AS350 operated by Philadelphia, PA based news channel 6abc and leased from U.S. Helicopters Inc in North Carolina crashed in the pine barrens of NJ near Wharton State Forest in Washington township. Two people died, the pilot and photographer. * On April 21, 2024, the tail rotor of an AS350 struck and killed a passenger after he disembarked from the helicopter on Akimiski Island,

Nunavut Nunavut is the largest and northernmost Provinces and territories of Canada#Territories, territory of Canada. It was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the ''Nunavut Act'' and the Nunavut Land Claims Agr ...

, Canada.

Specifications (AS350 B3)

References

Citations

Bibliography

* * Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". ''

Flight International ''Flight International'', formerly ''Flight'', is a monthly magazine focused on aerospace. Published in the United Kingdom and founded in 1909 as "A Journal devoted to the Interests, Practice, and Progress of Aerial Locomotion and Transport", i ...

''. Vol 180 No 5321, 13–19 December 2011. pp. 26–52. * * Jackson, Paul. ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004''. Coulsdon, Surry, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. . * Lucchesi, Claudio. "Brazilian Police Air Unit: São Paulo's Police Eagles". ''

Air International ''AIR International'' is a British aviation magazine covering current defence aerospace and civil aviation topics. It has been in publication since 1971 and is currently published by Key Publishing Ltd. History and profile The magazine was fir ...

'', June 2000, Vol. 58, No. 6. pp. 376–378. * Ripley, Tim. ''Middle East Air Power in the 21st Century''. Casemate Publishers, 2010. . * Taylor, John W. R. ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83''. London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1982. . * Taylor, Michael J. H. ''Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000''. London: Brassey's, 1999. . *Board, N. T. S., 2017. Loss of Control at Takeoff, Air Methods Corporation, Airbus Helicopters AS350 B3e, N390LG, Frisco, Colorado, July 3, 2015, Washington, DC: National Transportation Safety Board.

External links

Eurocopter's AS350 B2 page

Eurocopter's AS350 B3 page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eurocopter AS350 Ecureuil Airbus Helicopters aircraft Aérospatiale aircraft Aerial firefighting helicopters 1970s French helicopters 1970s French civil utility aircraft Single-turbine helicopters Aircraft first flown in 1974