The Norwegian Air Ambulance and Airbus have signed a frame contract for up to eight H-145 helicopters, including the firm acquisition of two units.

Today, Norwegian Air Ambulance operates all Hems (Helicopter Emergency Medical Services) bases in Norway relying mainly on a fleet of 20 H-135 and H-145 helicopters. The organisation's parent company, the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, was one of the first operators in the world to take delivery of a five-bladed H-145 in 2020.

The latest version of the light twin-engine H-145 adds a new, innovative five-bladed rotor to the multi-mission aircraft, increasing the useful load of the helicopter by 150kg.

In total, there are more than 1,750 H-145 family helicopters in service, logging a total of more than eight million flight hours. Powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines, the model is equipped with Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) and the Helionix digital avionics suite. 

Airbus Helicopters is one of the leading providers of helicopters to the air medical transport industry, providing 54% of the 2,900 EMS aircraft flying in the world today.