The EC135 is operated in 21 countries around Europe, with the largest populations to be found in Germany, the UK, France and Austria. Police and medical operators account for by far the majority, although there are also examples in corporate and passenger charter service. The largest fleets are in the hands of the German police force, followed by German and Austrian emergency medical services. Bond Offshore also has a substantial fleet. The

EC145 is rather less prolific, but still found in a dozen countries. This model is favoured by the French police and Swiss air ambulance.

The EC155 has a growing following for passenger service in the UK, with fleets in operation by Starspeed and Bristow, as well as by Dancopter in Denmark and Offshore Helicopters in Norway.

Operators of the EC135, widely used among police and ambulance services, and the long-range medium-lift EC155, are generally happy with the aircraft.

In the North Sea Uni Fly A/S has flown around 18,000 maintenance operations on 80 wind turbines since its first EC135 was delivered in 2002. Helicopter maintenance manager Frank Petersen says: "This helicopter only flies in bad weather because, when the sea is calm, the technicians can be transported by boat."

The EC135 lowers two technicians three or four metres to a specifically designed platform on the wind turbine more than 80 metres above the sea, Petersen says. "The EC135 has a large cabin and provides high levels of safety for hoisting operations. It is able to withstand the wind, which allows it to remain stable; and the right conditions are maintained in which the hoisting can be completed if one of the engines should fail. The aircraft's dispatch rate and value are good but our second EC135, being delivered in September, will have IFR which is a desirable upgrade to advance operational capability."

Petersen says that Uni Fly, launched in 1970, is happy with the maintenance and availability of spare parts. "The EC135 is on Eurocopter PBH (power by the hour) whereby maintenance costs are fixed and helicopter downtime is minimised. The service covers all D level scheduled and unscheduled repairs and overhauls for dynamic components - blades and basic equipment are included. At the end of their service life, all parts are replaced by new Eurocopter guaranteed parts," he adds.

Petersen says there is a rising demand for transport to offshore transformer installations. "The field that we service has 80 wind turbines in a 5x5 kilometre area and we do passenger transport to a transformer installation in a park being built now."

Uni Fly also specialises in air taxi flights and power, oil and gas line inspections. Its aerial photography and filming uses a 360 degree camera installation. The company also carries out sling operations, ice patrol from supply ships in Greenland, field operations for mineral exploration in Greenland and special missions with its EC135s complemented by a Schweizer 269C and two EC120 Colibris.

Denmark's DanCopter is happy with the with EC155's maintenance and availability of spare parts. Head of training Jan Petersen says: "We have evaluated this aircraft during the last six years and it has always shown a very high dispatch rate. Our maintenance programme uses zone inspection which more or less always delivers an aircraft on the line whenever our customers ask for a flight."

DanCopter plans to add to its EC155 fleet. The company brought Eurocopter's one hundredth EC155 B1 into operation. It was already operating five EC155s in the North Sea oil and gas market and is one of the launch customers of the EC175 with two on order.

From its main base in Esbjerg, DanCopter started offshore operations in support of the oil and gas industry in 2003, introduced successfully the first EC155 B1 helicopters in the North Sea, and now provides service to oil companies such as HESS and DONG Energy.

Nils Skeby, ceo, says: "We have expanded our activities from Denmark and the Netherlands into Ireland and Norway servicing Shell, Statoil, Gaz de France, Chevron, Wintershall, Det Norske and Maersk Oil." Skeby points out that the 12-passenger and two-pilot EC155 is a twin-engine, long range helicopter with the very latest technological innovation making it one of the most reliable helicopters on the market. It also has a fast cruising speed of 143 knots and a wide roomy cabin. "Its advanced Fenestron tail rotor and five-blade rotor means it is also the quietest rotorcraft in its category and ensures superior manoeuvrability, performance, and reliability" he adds.

Capt Keith Sturgess of Western Counties AOU, which operates an EC135T2, is satisfied with the maintenance, dispatch reliability and value and very satisfied with the operating capability. He says: "The best thing is the reliability. We work it very hard in police operations. The most desirable upgrade would be an increase of AUW although we are not implementing due to cost."

Peter Dahm of Avinco SAM reports that he is satisfied with the EC155B's maintenance support, dispatch reliability, operating capability and value.