Arrival of H135 F-HPLH helicopter to replace Le Havre harbor pilots' AS365 Dauphin F-GYLH
The helicopter is a major asset for piloting large ships approaching Le Havre or the Antifer oil terminal. The main mission is to hoist the harbor pilot aboard the ship, either by winch or directly by landing. With its ability to intervene rapidly over long distances, it enables pilots to be dropped off on several ships in a single flight, even in heavy seas, when the use of launches becomes difficult.
Le Havre’s H135 is equipped with Helionix avionics with four-axis autopilot, an emergency flotation system and an external liferaft certified for sea state 6, a helicopter emergency evacuation light (HEEL), an automatically deployable emergency locator transmitter (ADELT) and a winch. In addition to the pilot and winch technician, it can carry 3 marine pilots.
A world pioneer, Le Havre’s Station des Pilotes was the first French station to integrate a helicopter into its operations, starting with an Alouette III in 1976. The new H135 replaces the AS365 N3 Dauphin in service until now, making it the seventh aircraft to join Le Havre’s fleet, meeting the growing need for speed and safety in complex maritime conditions. Le Havre’s choice of an H135 will enable synergies with the ports of Dunkirk and Gironde, which also operate helicopters of the same type.
