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Foto: Julian Herzog (Website) · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Airbus Helicopters

Airbus H135 (EC135)

EC35
Medium Turbine Helicopter✓ in production1996 present
Range
338 NM · 626 km
MTOW
2,980 kg
Cruise
137 kt · 254 km/h
Seats
7
up to 7 passengers
New price
US$ 5.5M
Catalog reference, no research date

The Airbus H135 (EC135) is a medium turbine helicopter in production since 1996. Price: a new Airbus H135 (EC135) starts at US$ 5.5M; used, the market median is around US$ 2.7M. Median from Jet Tracker's price research as of 06/2026. It has a range of 338 nm, a cruise speed of 137 kt (254 km/h), up to 7 passengers. In Brazil there are 34 active units in the RAB-ANAC, excluding cancelled registrations. There are 20 aircraft from this family for sale today, across 24 listings on the portals Jet Tracker tracks (global market, not Brazil only).

Source: RAB-ANAC (data as of 11/9/2026) and Jet Tracker catalog (spec sheet reviewed on 10/30/2026).

Acquisition price · pre-owned market
24 active listings (global)Jet Tracker curation · 6 sources · 6/4/2026
US$ 2.7MR$ 14.9M
market medianaging ≈ −4.2%/yr−23% vs Medium Turbine Helicopter median
Entry
US$ 2.1M
model year 2005
Best value
US$ 2.7M
model year 2011
Top of range
US$ 5.0M
model year 2025
Used vs new
−51%
catalog US$ 5.5M
Minimum
US$ 1.2M
R$ 6.6M
Median
US$ 2.7M
R$ 14.9M
Maximum
US$ 5.0M
R$ 27.6M
New · catalog referencein productionUS$ 5.5M · R$ 30.3M
Depreciation curve by year of manufacture
CAGR +4.4%/yr·2005→2025
Market median by vintage (USD). Light-blue band = min/max range observed across real listings. Points without reliable public listings (n ≤ 1) use Bluebook/curve interpolation and are flagged as lower confidence.
7 of 7 points with reduced confidence (n ≤ 1 listing observed). The estimate for these years comes from Aircraft Bluebook / market-curve interpolation, not from direct listings.
Landed in Brazil

Index ≈ ×1.12 to ×1.36 on the aircraft value, already with ferry, ANAC nationalization, IPI and ICMS.

Through a qualified importer
US$ 1.3M – 5.8M
R$ 7.4M – 32.0M · Agreement 75/91 · IPI + ICMS ~7 to 12%
Direct import
US$ 1.5M – 6.8M
R$ 8.5M – 37.5M · IPI + full ICMS ~25 to 32%

Market estimate: value + ferry + ANAC nationalization + taxes, no legal review. II, PIS and COFINS are 0% for aircraft (NCM 88.02); IPI is 6.5% (3.25% for air taxi) until Dec 31, 2026; ~4% ICMS only through a qualified importer (Agreement 75/91).

Cost per flight hour
Operate · owned
US$ 1.6K/h
R$ 9.0K/h · Variable/h
Fixed/yr
US$ 413.6K
Total/h @ 200 hrs/yr
US$ 3.7K/h
Charter · 🌎 World
US$ 2.3K – 2.8K/h
R$ 12.7K – 15.4K/h
Charter · 🇧🇷 Brazil
US$ 2.8K – 4.3K/h
R$ 15.3K – 24.0K/h

Operate = direct cost/hour (fuel + maintenance + engine); excludes fixed costs (hangar, crew, insurance). World: hourly rate published by charter operators. Brazil: charter is quoted per leg, so the hourly figure is an estimate from route quotes.

How we read this price · 6 sources · researched 6/4/2026

Median and price range for pre-owned aircraft, compiled by Jet Tracker from asking prices in listings and the price guides in the sources below, checked on 6/4/2026. 1 of 7 model years has an observed listing. The rest are estimates from the market curve between model years and are flagged in the chart.

PTAX · R$ 5.5127 / US$ · 11/09/2026

Market estimates for guidance only, not a firm quote. Confirm the value with a broker/appraiser before any transaction.

Temporal identity

First flight
Feb 15, 1994
FAA cert.
—
ANAC cert.
—
Deliveries start
—
Units produced
1,600

The H135, also known by its earlier designation EC135, is the mid-size turbine helicopter from Airbus Helicopters, in production since 1996 and registered under the ICAO code EC35. It offers 338 nm of range, a 137 kt cruise speed, a 20,000 ft ceiling and a maximum takeoff weight of 2,980 kg, with 6 occupants in the typical configuration and up to 7 seats. The reference price of a new unit is US$5.5 million. This page gathers the spec sheet, the estimated operating cost and the fleet of the model registered in Brazil.

Detailed specs

Performance

Engines
2x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B2 or Turbomeca Arrius 2B2
Engine type
Twin-turbine 633-715 shp each
Max speed
155 kt
Rotor system
Rigid rotor (hingeless), Bo 105 heritage
Endurance
3.5 h
Fuel
700 L
Tail rotor type
10-blade Fenestron
Fuel
184.9 gal
Main rotor blades
4
Rate of climb
1,480 ft/min
Service ceiling
20,000 ft
Hover ceiling (IGE)
13,780 ft
Hover ceiling (OGE)
7,200 ft
Main rotor diameter
10.2 m

Cabin and comfort

Doors
2 front doors + rear sliding doors + rear clamshell (EMS)
Seats
7
Optional air conditioning
Yes
Configuration
7 seats (1+1+5), reconfigurable flat-floor cabin EMS/VIP/utility
Typical configuration
Vip 5
Useful load
1,480 kg
Cabin volume
4.9 m³
Noise attenuation
Modern cabin with Fenestron, one of the quietest in the category
Baggage compartment
35 cu ft

Avionics and engines

FMS
Helionix integrated FMS
Cockpit
Helionix glass cockpit (current H135 version) with 4 displays
Autopilot
4-axis Helionix with SAS, auto-hover and auto-recovery
Transponder
Garmin GTX 345R with ADS-B Out/In
IFR certified
IFR single/dual-pilot certified from the factory + Cat A operations
Weather radar
Optional Honeywell RDR-2100
Synthetic vision
Yes

Operating costs

Data source
Conklin & de Decker, Airbus Helicopters H135 (P3) Operating Costs & Specs (jetsupport / JSSI) · aviacost.com, Airbus H135 (P3) Aircraft Ownership & Operating Costs Calculator (variable $1,165/hr; $784,125/yr @ 325 hr; $2,413/hr) · Eurocopter/Airbus EC135 P2 technical data, fuel flow ~235 kg/hr (~60 gph) at 140 kt cruise · Bolt Flight, Airbus H135 Price and Operating Costs guide (2025)
Fuel burn
64 gal/h
Last updated
2026
Rotor overhaul interval
4,000 h
Market price (low)
US$ 2,200,000
Engine overhaul interval
4,000 h
Market price (high)
US$ 4,500,000

External dimensions

Overall length
12.16 m
Wingspan
10.2 m
Height
3.9 m

Weights & fuel

Operating empty weight (OEW)
1,455 kg
Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)
2,980 kg
Fuel capacity
700 L
Fuel capacity
1,253 lb

Cabin

Standard configuration
1 zone6 typical passengers · 7 maxVIP 5 seats

Typical factory configuration (curated data). The drawing below is schematic and at approximate scale; the actual layout varies by interior and year.

Cabin to scale: cross-section and profile
1,15 m1,50 m
front cross-section · person = 1.75 m
1,79 m long
Length
1.79 m
Width
1.5 m
Height
1.15 m
Volume
4.9 m³
Baggage
—

History

  1. 1994First flight
  2. 1996 - Launched in 1996 as the EC135, successor to the MBB Bo 105

    Eurocopter Deutschland (formerly MBB) certified the EC135 in June 1996 as the natural successor to the Bo 105, inheriting the pioneering hingeless rigid rotor system of the Bo 105, but modernized with a Fenestron, a larger flat-floor cabin and a FADEC system. In 2014, with the unification of Airbus Helicopters, it became the H135. More than 1,300 units produced in almost 30 continuous years, the absolute Airbus light-twin bestseller. Production plants in Donauwörth (Germany) and Albacete (Spain, joint venture with the Spanish government).

    Airbus Helicopters
  3. 2018 - H135M (EC635) version is military, for armed forces worldwide

    Military variants: the H135M (originally EC635) operated by the armies of Germany (LUH SAR), Switzerland (light multi-role), Iraq (training), Thailand and Jordan. Military features: robust avionics, reinforced cabin, sling-load + hoist + FLIR + searchlight capability, optional armor. Training version for armed forces: the H135 Trainer program adopted by the RAF (United Kingdom) and the Bundeswehr (Germany). The global military H135 fleet exceeds 200 units.

    Airbus Helicopters

Brazil Fleet

The Airbus H135 (EC135) is a twin-turbine helicopter for up to 7 passengers with a 338 nm range and a 137 kt cruise speed, in production since 1996. The up-to-date RAB-ANAC registration count is in the Brazil Fleet section of this page, and the breakdown by status (operational, registration-mark reservation, suspended) is in the model's Analytics.

According to Vertical magazine, on 3 Mar 2015, Airbus Helicopters renamed the EC135 as the H135. According to the EASA type certificate data sheet (TCDS EASA.R.009, issue of 16 Oct 2026), the first versions, the EC135 P1 (Pratt & Whitney Canada PW 206B engines) and the EC135 T1 (Turbomeca Arrius 2B1 engines), received their type certificate from the German authority LBA on 14 Jun 1996. EASA took over the certification on 28 Sep 2003, and the data sheet classifies the model as a Small Rotorcraft, flown by one pilot. The cabin seats six passengers, or seven with the kit described in the data sheet; on the P3 version, the maximum capacity is seven.

The pre-owned median and open listings, kept up to date, are in the price card and the For sale now card of this page.

Reviewed on 26/10/2026. Every number carries its source (manufacturer, certification authority or trade publication, with date); live fleet and market figures are in this page's sections.

45 registrations in the RAB (all statuses)

Full analysis: listing, mark reservations, charts and change log in the ANAC Monitor.

Open Analytics

Lineage

Model with no documented lineage in the manufacturer's line.

Curiosities and highlights

Benefits

Absolute standard for HEMS EMS in Europe

The H135 is the dominant EMS helicopter in Europe; operators Christophorus (Austria), ADAC Luftrettung (Germany), DRF Luftrettung (Germany), Babcock SCAS (UK) and Heli Bernina (Switzerland) standardize on the H135. Decisive features: twin-engine + Cat A operations, a flat-floor cabin allows fast stretcher loading through the rear clamshell door, Helionix 4-axis autopilot with auto-hover critical for night SAR/EMS, and a quiet Fenestron for urban hospital vertiports. The European EMS H135 fleet exceeds 400 units.

Helionix glass cockpit offers Boeing-class automation

The current H135 comes with Helionix, Airbus Helicopters' integrated 4-screen avionics system with SVT, weather radar, 4-axis autopilot with SAS, auto-hover, auto-recovery from unusual attitudes (vortex ring state, settling with power) and dual-FMS. Automation capability that is rare in a light twin, comparable to the avionics of modern corporate jets. Reduces pilot workload by 40%+ on night IFR SAR/EMS missions. Technological base for the H145 and H160.

Limitations

7 PAX cabin limits luxury VIP operations

The H135 cabin seats 7 PAX (1+1+5) in standard configuration, enough for EMS, police and light corporate, but small for luxury executive VIP missions. The AW109 GrandNew (8 PAX) and Bell 429 (8 PAX) offer larger cabins in the same light-twin segment. For VIP customers who need more than 5 rear PAX, the choice goes to the AW109 GrandNew or a medium twin (H145). The H135 stays in the EMS/police/light corporate niche, a dominant segment.

Curiosities

São Paulo Civil Police and PRF operate the H135 in Brazil

In Brazil the H135 operates with the Federal Police (a few units), the São Paulo Civil Police (DEIC/COPOM) with a dedicated night SAR/EMS unit, the Federal Highway Police (PRF) and some corporate VIP operators. The active Brazilian fleet in 2024 exceeds 25 units. The differentiator vs. the AS350/H125 is IFR capability + twin-engine + Cat A operations, enabling night missions and marginal weather that a single-engine cannot serve.

Helibras

Airbus H135 (EC135) for sale now

Listed aircraft with a page on Jet Tracker, from the lowest asking price up. Asking is not the closing price; portals and the reading date are on each page.

Registrations in Brazil

20 operational aircraft owned by companies in the ANAC registry (RAB). Each opens the profile with owner, operator, status and history.

PP-HPYPP-MECPP-MMLPR-BAHPR-EBSPR-ERJPR-FMIPR-GCEPR-GSPPR-HZAPR-JGCPR-PHBPR-PVCPR-RFAPR-RFCPR-UBIPS-JPSPS-OIOPS-PAMPT-YZB

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Airbus H135 (EC135) cost?

The catalog reference for a new Airbus H135 (EC135) is US$ 5.5M, without a verified factory list price. On the used market the value varies with year and flight hours; see real listings on this model's Market tab.

What is the range of the Airbus H135 (EC135)?

The maximum range is 338 nm (338 NM · 626 km).

How fast is the Airbus H135 (EC135)?

Cruise speed is 137 kt, equivalent to 254 km/h.

How many passengers does the Airbus H135 (EC135) seat?

The Airbus H135 (EC135) seats up to 7 passengers, crew not included.

How many Airbus H135 (EC135) are there in Brazil?

There are 34 active units in the RAB-ANAC (data as of 11/9/2026): operational, mark reservation or suspended, excluding cancelled registrations.

Who operates the Airbus H135 (EC135) in Brazil?

21 distinct operators operate 30 units of the Airbus H135 (EC135) in the RAB-ANAC: 9 in air taxi (RBAC 135) and 21 in private operation (RBAC 91), concentrated in RJ, SP and PR (data as of 11/9/2026). Not included in that count: 4 units run by public bodies (police, fire departments or government). Name, fleet and state of each operator are on this model's Analytics tab and in the operators directory.

How much does it cost to operate the Airbus H135 (EC135) per hour?

Jet Tracker estimate: about US$ 3,701 per flight hour at 200 h/year, of which US$ 1,633 per hour is variable cost (fuel, engine program, maintenance reserves) plus US$ 413,650 per year of fixed cost (crew, hangar, insurance), under Jet Tracker's default assumptions (Southeast Brazil, in-house crew, 200 h/year). Run your own scenario on this model's Costs tab.

What is the market for the Airbus H135 (EC135) like in Brazil?

The Airbus H135 (EC135) is a twin-turbine helicopter for up to 7 passengers with a 338 nm range and a 137 kt cruise speed, in production since 1996. The up-to-date RAB-ANAC registration count is in the Brazil Fleet section of this page, and the breakdown by status (operational, registration-mark reservation, suspended) is in the model's Analytics.