The Honduran Ministry of Defence (MoD) has purchased two additional H145 helicopters, manufacturer Airbus announced on 10 April 2024.
The H145s will be operated by the Honduran Air Force to perform passenger and cargo transport, search-and-rescue, firefighting, medical evacuation and other essential missions in the region.
This new purchase follows an initial order signed in April 2023 for two H145s that will be delivered before the end of 2024.
“The H145 helicopters respond to Honduras’ need for modern, multi-purpose helicopters that can be used for the next 30 years,” Honduran Defence Minister José Manuel Zelaya was quoted as saying in an Airbus press release. “Honduras, due to its location, is frequently affected by hurricanes, natural disasters and fires. The fact that we will have six H145s available in the coming years will make the population feel safer knowing that their armed forces have the most modern helicopters to protect and assist them during these natural disasters.”
Although only four H145s have so far been ordered by the Honduran MoD, it announced its intention to operate a total of six of the type when it placed its initial order in April 2023.
Alberto Robles, head of Airbus Helicopters in Latin America, added, “We are delighted to take another step forward in our collaboration with Honduras through this vital project and we are proud to know that our H145s will perform essential missions to protect the Honduran people. With excellent availability and performance, the H145 has proven to be a very versatile platform that adapts perfectly to the climatic and geographic conditions of the region.”
“In addition to the operational advantages and safety features that make the H145 a commercial success around the world, the five-bladed version offers an additional 150 kg of useful load and improved comfort for passengers and crews,” Airbus noted in its press release. “The H145’s excellent performance, especially in hot and high conditions, makes it ideal for performing firefighting missions, with added value provided by its compact fuselage, which enables the aircraft to operate and land in confined spaces.”
In total, there are more than 1,600 H145 family helicopters in service, which have flown more than 7.5 million flight hours. More than 120 of those are currently flying in Latin America.
