The new EC225e version of Airbus Helicopters' workhorse Super Puma product line was formally launched today, offering an enhanced rotorcraft that responds to operators' requirements for extended-range missions – particularly in support of deep-water oil and gas airlift missions.

Details on the EC225e were outlined at the 2014 Heli-Expo convention in Anaheim, California, along with the first orders.

The twin-engine EC225e has improved capabilities that include more payload, an additional fuel tank for very long range flights, a new cabin layout for improved passenger comfort and new avionics to significantly increase pilots' situational awareness while reducing workload.

Certification of the EC225e is targeted for late 2015, followed by the delivery start-up in mid- 2016.

“We developed the EC225e to meet growing requirements for longer-range flights, while retaining top levels of performance, passenger comfort and operational safety,” explained Airbus Helicopters President Guillaume Faury. “This is particularly valuable for oil and gas missions as the exploration and recovery of energy resources moves further offshore and into deeper waters.”

Turbomeca Makila 2B turboshaft engines on the EC225e will provide enhanced performance and a range-of-action extended to 300 nautical miles with 10 passengers. These powerplants incorporate a new combustion chamber and blades in the high-pressure turbine, enabling the EC225e to take off at its maximum all-up weight in CAT A conditions.

A new seating layout, which was designed in coordination with customers, provides increased comfort for passengers and offers better access.

In the EC225e's cockpit, the equipment lineup includes a Euronav7 moving map system, automatic identification system (AIS), TCAS2 collision avoidance system, and flight management system. Among the helicopter's enhanced operational capabilities will be the capability to perform automatic GPS (global positioning system) approaches to oil rigs or airfields that are not equipped with radio navigation means.