Commercial Aviation
Air Transport Europe Orders Airbus H135 and H140 Helicopters for EMS
Air Transport Europe orders Airbus H135 and H140 helicopters to enhance emergency medical services in Slovakia and Czech Republic with advanced avionics.
This article is based on an official press release from Airbus Helicopters.
On March 11, 2026, at the VERTICON 2026 trade show in Atlanta, Georgia, Airbus Helicopters and Slovakian helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) operator Air Transport Europe (ATE) announced a new purchase agreement. According to an official press release from Airbus, ATE has ordered one Airbus H135 and one of the newly developed Airbus H140 helicopters.
This acquisition marks a significant step in ATE’s ongoing fleet modernization strategy. The inclusion of the H140 positions the Slovakian operator as an early adopter of Airbus’s latest 3-tonne class light twin-engine rotorcraft, which the manufacturer states is scheduled to enter service for the EMS segment in 2028.
We note that this investment will enhance ATE’s critical care and mountain rescue capabilities across Central Europe. The organization currently operates 24/7 services from seven bases across Slovakia and two bases in the neighboring Czech Republic, frequently navigating demanding mountainous terrain where aircraft performance is paramount.
Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Poprad, Slovakia, ATE has decades of expertise in emergency rescue and intensive care transport. Industry research indicates that ATE frequently operates in the High Tatra Mountains and the broader Carpathian mountain range. This high-altitude environment requires aircraft with exceptional performance, high power reserves for hovering, and reliability in rapidly changing weather conditions.
To meet these demands, ATE has historically operated a diverse fleet. According to industry reports, their current lineup includes the AgustaWestland A109K2, the Bell 429, and the Eurocopter/Airbus EC135/H135 series. The addition of the new Airbus models will further standardize their operations around advanced digital avionics.
“Our priority has always been to provide the highest standard of emergency medical care, which requires a fleet that is both versatile and technologically advanced. By integrating the Helionix equipped H135 and the H140 into our operations, we are embarking on a new level that will enhance our ability to reach patients in challenging environments and provide them with the best possible care.”
, Milan Hoholik, CEO of Air Transport Europe, via Airbus press release
The H140, officially unveiled in March 2025 at the VERTICON show in Dallas, is designed to bridge the gap between the H135 and the H145. According to Airbus, the 3-tonne class rotorcraft features a new T-shaped tail boom with an optimized Fenestron to reduce sound levels, alongside a five-blade bearingless main rotor. Industry research details that the H140 is powered by twin Safran Arrius 2E engines, each delivering 700 shaft horsepower. Furthermore, the innovative T-tail design moves the horizontal stabilizer out of the main rotor’s downwash. Research reports estimate this aerodynamic adjustment provides up to 80 kg (175 lbs) of additional lift in hover conditions without requiring extra engine power,a critical advantage for ATE’s mountain rescue missions.
Designed with accessibility in mind, the H140 offers significant upgrades for medical crews. Airbus notes that the helicopter features a larger cabin space, large windows, and an optimized layout that can accommodate up to six passengers.
Supplementary industry data specifies that the H140 boasts a cabin volume of 215 cubic feet (6.10 cubic meters), making it approximately 20% larger than the H135. The aircraft includes a completely flat floor and large clamshell rear doors. Airbus highlights that these rear loading capabilities, combined with a high tail boom, allow for the safe and efficient use of intensive care stretchers and transport incubators.
Alongside the new H140, ATE is expanding its fleet with the Airbus H135. Airbus describes the H135 as the undisputed leader in the HEMS market, recognized for its compact footprint, low sound levels, and high safety standards.
Both the H135 and the H140 are equipped with Airbus’s Helionix digital avionics suite and a 4-axis autopilot. This shared technology offers an ideal platform for primary and secondary medical missions by reducing pilot workload and increasing safety during critical operations.
“We are honored to welcome Air Transport Europe as a new Airbus H140 customer and are proud that they have placed their trust in our helicopters for their essential HEMS operations in Slovakia and Czech Republic. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to excellence in air rescue…”
, Thomas Hein, Head of Europe Region at Airbus Helicopters, via Airbus press release
We observe that ATE’s acquisition is highly indicative of a broader modernization trend within the European HEMS sector. By securing the H140, ATE is keeping pace with the highest European air rescue standards. Recent industry data shows that major German operators, including ADAC Luftrettung and DRF Luftrettung, have also heavily invested in the H140, with DRF ordering ten units in 2025.
Furthermore, the strategic choice to operate both the H135 and H140 provides ATE with significant fleet commonality. Because both aircraft utilize the Helionix avionics suite, operators benefit from seamless pilot transition between aircraft types. We assess that this commonality will likely reduce ATE’s long-term training costs while improving overall operational safety across their nine bases. The Airbus H140 is a new 3-tonne class light twin-engine helicopter unveiled in 2025. It features a five-blade main rotor, a T-shaped tail boom, and a spacious cabin designed specifically to accommodate intensive care medical equipment.
According to Airbus Helicopters, the H140 is planned to enter service for the emergency medical services (EMS) segment in 2028.
ATE provides 24/7 helicopter emergency medical services from seven bases in Slovakia and two bases in the Czech Republic, frequently conducting rescue missions in the High Tatra Mountains.
Modernizing the Fleet for High-Altitude Rescue
ATE’s Operational Demands
The Airbus H140: Next-Generation HEMS Capabilities
Technical Innovations
Patient Care Enhancements
The Proven H135 and Fleet Commonality
AirPro News analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Airbus H140?
When will the Airbus H140 enter service?
Where does Air Transport Europe (ATE) operate?
Sources
Photo Credit: Airbus