A new aircraft type has arrived at the Aeroplex (ACE) hangar. Under the framework agreement signed earlier this year with the Hungarian Air Ambulance Nonprofit Ltd., Aeroplex will carry out both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance for the national air ambulance fleet — comprising a total of nine EC135 P2+ rescue helicopters — until 2028.
The first project began on March 21, when the well-known yellow-and-red Airbus helicopter landed for the first time on the apron in front of ACE. The intermediate maintenance of the EC135, registration HA-HBK, started immediately — air ambulance helicopters will now regularly rotate through the hangar.
The current task includes the 500-hour and 12-month maintenance of the airframe, along with the 1000-hour and 12-month maintenance of the engines. During the process, technicians disassemble all major systems of the helicopter, thoroughly inspect them, and perform the necessary repairs.
Among other things, the navigation and communication systems, as well as the fuel and hydraulic systems, are reviewed. Special attention is given to the main rotor blades, which play a crucial role in flight control, and the unique tail rotor system (fenestron), which undergoes an in-depth inspection. In addition to the technical work, aesthetic repairs are also performed, including touch-ups to the painted surfaces inside and outside the aircraft—all contributing to the safe and reliable operation of the helicopter.
“Air ambulance missions are among the most demanding aviation tasks. At Aeroplex, we are proud to support the operability of rescue helicopters, as these aircraft save lives every single day. Our goal is to ensure the airworthiness and reliability of the air ambulance fleet to the highest standard,” emphasized Árpád Demény, Managing Director of Aeroplex.
In recent years, the Aeroplex light aircraft division has mainly focused on servicing civil aircraft, so this marks a significant milestone as the company now plays a role in supporting the operation of the national government’s rotorcraft fleet for the first time.
The framework agreement was made possible by a government decree issued on February 17, 2024, which designated Aeroplex as the organization responsible for maintaining and ensuring the airworthiness of both the air ambulance helicopters and the rotorcraft fleet of the law enforcement agencies. As a result, additional helicopter types are expected to appear in Aeroplex’s light aircraft portfolio in the future.
