Rotary Wing Students Fly Airbus EC130T2

Our rotary wing students flew the Airbus EC130T2 for their final project (FINEX).

They were flying an Airbus France product that none of them had been involved with before. The EC130T2 has a novel tail rotor called a Fenestron, designed for noise reduction and improved safety, which is a ducted fan encased within the tail rotor fin. Also of note is the unusual seating configuration for a helicopter, with 3 seats in the front of the aircraft and the pilot-in-command flying from the left-hand seat. It is a modern light single-engined helicopter fitted with capable avionics and a basic autopilot system, making it an excellent choice as a FINEX aircraft for students to put their training into practice to determine whether the aircraft is suitable for the coastguard/fisheries protection role.

These students graduate next week, and we look forward to seeing them excel as the next generation of competent and safe flight test professionals when they return to their sponsors.