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A mock-up of the ACH140 cabin is being debuted at Verticon in Atlanta.
ATLANTA—Airbus Helicopters’ new H140 light twin-engine rotorcraft is set to be the next model in the company’s product line to receive the corporate VIP treatment.
The airframer has already secured launch orders from Europe, Latin America and North America for the new configuration, which will be marketed by its Airbus Corporate Helicopters (ACH) business.
The aircraft will also be among the first in the ACH range to incorporate a new design philosophy that Airbus plans to roll out across its corporate helicopter portfolio in the coming years—from the single-engine ACH125 to the super-medium ACH175. The ACH derivative of the H130 will, however, be the first model to adopt the updated interior concept.
A mock-up H140 cabin fitted out with a luxurious VIP interior is debuting at Vertical Aviation International’s (VAI) Verticon event here March 9-12.
“With the ACH140, we truly believe this marks the birth of an icon in the market,” ACH head Frederic Lemos told journalists ahead of the event.
He said the aircraft could “disrupt the current lightweight offering” in the private and business aviation segment, thanks in part to its sleek exterior design, which features a T-tail horizontal stabilizer, as well as a smoother ride enabled by the addition of a five-bladed main rotor.
ACH is proposing a flexible interior layout that allows seating for four to six passengers in the rear cabin while keeping the rear cargo compartment free for baggage.
Lemos said the configuration, combined with the helicopter’s large cabin windows, provides generous legroom and a “feeling of space” as well as the level of comfort “expected by this clientele.”
Those windows will also offer “an incredible view” for passengers, he said. “This is a very important point when you are in an aircraft, so you don’t feel secluded.”
The ACH140 is due to be available from 2030, following type certification and then the development of emergency medical service (EMS) configurations. EMS operators have so far made the lion’s share of orders for the H140 since it was launched at last year’s Verticon in Dallas. Development of the helicopter is already well underway with two prototypes supporting flight tests and two more set to join the program by early 2027.
The unveiling of the ACH140 comes just two weeks after the company introduced the new Mercedes-Benz edition of the five-blade ACH145 on Feb. 26. Airbus and Mercedes-Benz have collaborated since 2010 to offer helicopter interiors inspired by the automaker’s luxury vehicles. The latest edition was unveiled in Sao Paulo, one of the world’s largest markets for corporate helicopters due to severe road congestion in the Brazilian city. Airbus and ACH have delivered 26 helicopters featuring interiors developed through the Mercedes-Benz partnership.
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