Airbus Helicopters Shines at Verticon 2025
At Verticon 2025 in Dallas, Texas, Airbus has made a significant impact with its helicopter manufacturing arm by securing numerous orders and showcasing several key rotorcraft. Widely recognized as the world’s largest vertical aviation conference, Verticon draws thousands of visitors and hundreds of exhibitors to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center for three days of discussions, negotiations, and networking focused on vertical aviation. This year’s event, which opened on March 11, has proven to be a rich pick for Airbus as it presented its latest innovations and secured agreements for up to 110 aircraft.
Airbus used the platform to highlight its new H140 rotorcraft, making waves with Global Medical Response (GMR) stepping forward as one of the launch customers. GMR signed an agreement for up to 10 H140 helicopters, with options for an additional five, following an earlier order for 28 Airbus helicopters in November 2024. This deal will expand GMR’s future fleet to nearly 200 Airbus helicopters, strengthening its position in the air medical industry. Ted Van Horne, COO of GMR, expressed pride in offering the new design to its patients and emphasized that the H140 would provide a better environment for delivering critical care.
In addition to GMR’s order, major European partners also joined the H140 launch. Both ADAC Luftrettung and ÖAMTC Flugrettung, two leading helicopter emergency medical services operators in Europe, signed agreements for five H140 helicopters each on the opening day, while ADAC Luftrettung further ordered three H135s and one H145. ADAC Luftrettung currently operates 60 Airbus helicopters from its 38 stations, and ÖAMTC Flugrettung runs 32 H135s from 18 permanent bases, making these deals a significant boost for Airbus as it reinforces longstanding partnerships in the region.
STAT MedEvac, an air medical operator based in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, also placed an order at Verticon for two H140 helicopters with an option for a third, reinforcing its four-decade-long relationship with Airbus. STAT MedEvac’s CEO, Jim Houser, expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to be at the forefront of technological advances in air medical services and to better serve the communities they operate in.
US-based Air Methods further expanded its fleet by ordering 10 H125s and 11 H135s, adding to its already substantial commercial operation of Airbus helicopters. As the largest global operator of Airbus helicopters, Air Methods’ recent order of 21 aircraft comes alongside an additional order for 27 Bell helicopters, highlighting its strategic fleet expansion efforts. CEO Rob Hamilton commented that the Global Fleet Agreement with Airbus would support sustained growth and innovation for years to come.
Metro Aviation from Shreveport, Louisiana, also became an H140 launch customer by ordering 12 units with options for 24 more. Bart Reijnen, President of Airbus Helicopters in the US, noted that Metro Aviation’s reputation for delivering world-class services made them a perfect partner for the H140, which is expected to enhance their operational capabilities nationwide.
In a further indication of broad market appeal, the UK’s National Police Air Service signed an agreement to acquire seven H135 helicopters as part of its fleet renewal program, while DRF Luftrettung in Germany signed a Letter of Intent for 10 H140 helicopters. New York State Police also joined the list of early adopters by ordering one H160 and three H145 helicopters, marking the first time a US law enforcement agency has added an H160 to its fleet. These orders collectively underscore Airbus Helicopters’ dominance at Verticon 2025, as it continues to secure high-profile deals that span emergency medical services, law enforcement, and commercial operations around the globe.
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