When Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) unveiled its all new EC175 helicopter at Heli-Expo 2008, it also launched a whole new helicopter category – the “Super Medium”. Rival AgustaWestland (now Leonardo) announced the competing AW189 at the 2011 Paris Air Show, while Bell announced its 525 model just one year later. Some 10 years since the “Super Medium” entered service, the overall fleet size and market penetration have been below expectation. However, there are new opportunities for this class of helicopter, especially in Asia-Pacific.
Source: ASG Helicopter Database
The EC175, later renamed the H175 in line with Airbus Helicopters’ redesignation of its helicopter programs, is a 7.8-ton class, 12-18 seat twin-engine helicopter. It is designed to fill the gap between traditional medium helicopters such as the Sikorsky S-76 / Leonardo AW139 and heavy helicopters such as the Sikorsky S-92 / Airbus EC225/H225. With that size segment, the H175 is primarily aimed at the offshore oil and gas support sector, offering a newer technology and potentially lower cost option to supplement and replace existing types.
The H175 is jointly developed with The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), which would offer the domestically produced AC352 to the local Chinese market. There are some differences between the two variants, most notably the choice of powerplants. The H175 is powered by the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67E, while the AC352 has the Turbomeca Ardiden 3C/WZ16, which was specifically developed by a joint partnership between Turbomeca and Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC).
Although the AC352 has received production certification from the Chinese authorities, the program has been delayed by performance and reliability issues and first customer deliveries are not expected to take place until the second half of 2026 at the earliest.
EASA certification of the H175 was received in January 2014 after a delay of more than two years, due to integration issues with the Helionix avionics. The type entered commercial service in December 2014 with Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen (NHV) supporting oil and gas operations in the North Sea.
The competing 8-ton AW189 was developed from the successful AW139 medium twin and is part of a family concept which also includes the smaller AW169. All share a common cockpit, humanmachine interface and design features such as rotor architecture, f lat and unobstructed cabin, wide access sliding doors.
Following its launch in June 2011, the first prototype of the AW189 successfully completed its maiden flight, ahead of schedule, in December 2011. EASA certification was received in February 2014 and first delivery was made in April of that year. The AW189 began operations in the offshore sector in July 2014, flown by Bristow in the UK, effectively becoming the first Super Medium type to enter service.
A “hot-and-high” version of the AW189 – the AW189K was launched in 2017, which is powered by the Safran Aneto 1K engine instead of the General Electric CT7-2E1on the standard version.
Bell launched the 525 Relentless in 2012, the largest offering from the OEM to date and again aimed at the offshore sector. It is also the largest among the Super Medium types with a maximum take-off weight of 9.3 tons and can carry up to 20 passengers. Development and certification has been set back by numerous delays, and first deliveries are not expected until 2026 at the earliest, some 11 years after the Bell 525’s first flight. Norwegian petroleum refiner Equinor is the launch customer and will deploy the type to support its North Sea operations. Equinor has also ordered five AW189s.
The Super Medium category has been in service for ten years, but market penetration has been weaker than expected. At the end of Q2 2024, there were 145 Super Mediums in civil and government service worldwide, excluding pure military use examples. The fleet comprised 87 AW189s and 58 H175s. A further 45 AW189s and one H175 were flown by military operators.
Source: ASG Helicopter Database
Asia-Pacific had the largest based fleet of Super Mediums at the end of Q2 2024 with a fleet of 46, followed by Europe with 40 and Latin and South America with 18. There were no H175s based in the Middle East or North America.
Source: ASG Helicopter Database
Over 60% of the Super Medium Fleet was deployed in offshore oil and gas support missions, with around one-quarter in search and rescue (SAR). Super Mediums were also flown in the VIP, law enforcement and multi-mission sectors.
While the majority of the fleet was operated in the offshore role, as intended by the OEMs, fleet penetration in that sector has been relatively weak. Both the AW189 and H175 arrived on the market at a time when the offshore oil and gas market was slowing down, and oil have remained remained relatively low since then. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a lower demand for fleet replacement and new growth opportunities in oil exploration.
There were high expectations that offshore operators would move from the larger S-92s and H225s to the smaller, more efficient Super Mediums. However, the general reduction in demand for new offshore helicopters, together with the lowered costs of acquiring / leasing / operating the heavy types may have offset the operational and cost efficiencies expected of the Super Mediums.
Questions remain over how much demand there will be for Super Mediums in the offshore role, with a third offering – the Bell 525 entering the market in a few years’ time. A significant change in the offshore oil and gas market dynamics is necessary before a notable increase in Super Medium demand will be triggered. Sustained higher oil prices, which would drive economically viable increasing in exploration of deepwater fields, could be a major contributor. However, the increasing emphasis on sustainability is also encouraging a reduced reliance on fossil fuels, which would negatively affect the long-term prospects of the oil and gas industry.
The Super Mediums have also been deployed in other missions outside of oil and gas support, notably in search and rescue (SAR) with seven H175s and 27 AW189s at the end of Q2 2024. There were 10 Super Mediums operating in VIP transport and a further 10 in law enforcement. These non-oil and gas sectors could become demand drivers for Super Mediums in the coming years, and helicopter OEMs and lessors are now placing more emphasis on developing these markets.
The 46 Super Medium helicopters based in the Asia-Pacific region at the end of Q2 2024 comprised 26 AW189s and 20 H175s, with China and Malaysia having nine units based, Hong Kong with seven and Australia and Thailand with six each.
China’s Ministry of Transport (MOT) is the largest Super Medium operator in China with six SAR configured AW189s, flown by China Rescue. Two AW189s serve with the China Police in the law enforcement role. The first H175 delivered to China was a VIP configured example operated by CITIC COHC.
There were nine Super Mediums based in Malaysia at the end of Q2 2024, including three AW189s operated by Weststar Aviation Services and the Fire Department of Malaysia. Weststar also had three AW189s deployed in Africa to support local oil and gas contracts. The six Malaysia-based H175s were operated in the offshore and VIP roles by Hornbill Skyways, HAS International and MHS Aviation.
Hong Kong’s Government Flying Service (GFS) was the launch customer of the SAR version of the H175, which replaced its ageing AS332 Super Pumas and EC155s. The seven GFS H175s are flown on a variety of missions including SAR, firefighting and law enforcement.
The six Australia-based Super Mediums were all deployed in the offshore support role and comprised four H175s with Offshore Services Australasia (Babcock) and two AW189s with CHC Helicopters Australia. Thailand was the first country in Asia-Pacific to introduce a law enforcement equipped Super Medium and now has six in operation with the Royal Thai Police – two H175s and four AW189s. These helicopters are also used in VIP transportation missions. The Indonesian National Police was another Super Medium law enforcement operator with a fleet of two AW189s.
Two of the three AW189s based in Japan were operated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) as multi-mission helicopters with surveying capabilities. The Tokyo Fire Department operated a single AW189 – one of the first to be fully equipped for firefighting missions. The Seoul Fire Department in South Korea also had a firefighting AW189 in its fleet.
Super Medium helicopters already fly a good mix of missions across the Asia-Pacific region, with more deliveries to new operators planned for 2024 and beyond. China Rescue’s first two SAR H175s have been completed and will be delivered soon, to operate alongside its AW189s and other existing types. PHI International Australia will also take delivery of its first two offshore-fitted H175s shortly. Back in March 2024, China’s SKYCO International Financial Leasing signed a contract for six H175s, to be deployed on SAR and other related missions. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) will introduce three AW189s in law enforcement and SAR roles. Introduction of the Chinese-built AC352 later in the decade will also boost the Super Medium fleet size in Asia-Pacific.
Elsewhere, both the AW189 and H175 have received new orders in 2024, mostly for the offshore and SAR markets from major operators and lessors such as PHI, Bristow, LCI and GD Helicopter Finance. The recent orders for Super Mediums have generated a much needed boost for this class of helicopter, and its presence is set to grow in Asia-Pacific.
