Dare County, N.C., has taken delivery of an Airbus H145 helicopter for its air medical transport service that covers the Outer Banks region. It will be the first H145 operating in the U.S., according to Airbus.

The aircraft will enter service with Dare County MedFlight in July following the installation of an air medical transport interior by Metro Aviation. The H145 replaces a BK117, an earlier version of the H145 (formerly the EC145 T2).

The H145's new dual FADEC engines, combined with an upgraded main gear box, provide improved one-engine inoperative (OEI) performance and hover performance, which are important safety factors for emergency medical services operations.

The H145 Helionix avionics system reduces pilot workload and enhances situational awareness for increased flight safety. The H145's unobstructed cabin allows MedFlight to expand its capabilities by providing services for disaster relief and rescue missions.

"The H145 allows us to operate in a state-of-the-art aircraft with cutting edge safety features, such as the Helionix system and FADEC engines," said Chad Jones, the county's director of operations and chief pilot.