Paris, June 18, 2025 – The Norwegian Air Ambulance (NAA) has signed a frame contract with Airbus Helicopters for up to eight H145 helicopters, including two firm orders, continuing the organization’s long-standing commitment to modernizing its emergency medical fleet.
The H145, already a cornerstone of Norwegian air rescue operations, will now reinforce NAA’s position as the national Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) provider after being reselected by Norwegian authorities.
“The H145 has proven well-suited for Norwegian conditions—this contract is a natural continuation,” said Leif Olstad, CEO of NAA.
Proven Platform for Life-Saving Missions
With 20 Airbus H135 and H145 helicopters already in service, NAA operates all HEMS bases across Norway. In 2020, it became the first operator globally to take delivery of the five-bladed H145, showcasing its forward-thinking approach to rotorcraft technology.
The latest H145 variant introduces:
- A five-bladed main rotor, increasing useful load by 150 kg
- Lower maintenance requirements thanks to the new bearingless rotor design
- Enhanced comfort, reliability, and serviceability
With over 1,750 H145 family helicopters in service and more than eight million flight hours, the platform is globally recognized for:
- Low acoustic footprint (quietest in its class)
- Lowest CO₂ emissions among light twin-engine helicopters
- Advanced safety via the Helionix avionics suite and 4-axis autopilot
“The H145 continues to define excellence in air medical operations,” said Thomas Hein, Head of Europe Region at Airbus Helicopters.
As of 2025, 54% of the world’s 2,900 EMS helicopters are Airbus aircraft, underscoring the company’s leadership in aeromedical rescue missions.
