Japan Coast Guard orders H225 for fleet renewal

Airbus Helicopters H225 operated by Japan Coast Guard

The Japan Coast Guard has ordered an additional H225 helicopter, the delivery of which will take their fleet to six, although it is not expected until the end of 2018. Airbus describe this as part of the fleet renewal program for the search and rescue operator, which also operates three AS332L1 Super Pumas that are all-weather transport helicopters originally designed for the French Army.

The Japan Coast Guard air fleet currently consists of nine Bombardier 300 regional turboprops; nine Beechcraft King Air 350 turboprops; two Dassault Falcon 900 jets; four Saab 340 regional turboprops; one Cessna 206 piston-engine prop; three Sikorsky S-76 helicopters; 12 Bell 212 helicopters; 18 Agusta AW139 helicopters; five Bell 412 helicopters; and three Bell 206 helicopters.

The aircraft are used for search and rescue missions, security enforcement, territorial sea guard duties as well as disaster relief missions.

“We feel honoured to have signed this contract with Japan Coast Guard for their sixth H225 and are grateful for our customer’s renewed trust in the aircraft,” said Stéphane Ginoux, president of Airbus Helicopters in Japan.

A total of 24 helicopters from the Super Puma family are operated in Japan by civil and parapublic users for search and rescue, offshore operations and passenger transport missions.