The Minister of Defense of Honduras, Rixi Moncada, along with the Chief of the Joint Staff, Gen. Roosevelt Hernández, and the Commander of the Honduran Air Force, Gen. Guillermo Rosales, signed the receipt of two Airbus H145 D3 helicopters today.
The reception of the rotary-wing aircraft with registrations FAH 990 and FAH 991 took place in Donauwörth, Germany, after successfully completing the required test flights prior to their delivery..
This is the first delivery of H145 helicopters, part of a total of six units negotiated by the Government of Honduras with Airbus Helicopters in 2023. The contract for the acquisition of the second batch of helicopters was signed in April 2024, with delivery to the Central American country expected in 2025. Each helicopter is estimated to cost between 11 and 12 million dollars. Additionally, the agreement includes training for Honduran pilots and technical personnel, as well as initial logistical support and spare parts supply.
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The H145s will be operated by the Honduran Air Force (FAH) to carry out passenger and cargo transport missions, search and rescue (SAR), firefighting, medical evacuation, and other essential missions in the region.
In addition to the operational advantages and safety features that have made the H145 a commercial success worldwide, the five-blade version acquired by Honduras offers an additional 150 kg of payload and greater comfort for passengers and crew. Its compact fuselage allows it to operate and land in confined spaces, which is particularly useful in Honduras’ complex geography, characterized by dense jungles and rugged mountains.
In total, there are over 1,600 helicopters from the H145 family in service, with more than 7.5 million flight hours. More than 120 are currently flying in Latin America. Thanks to its high flight availability rate and ability to operate in all weather conditions, the H145 can be ready to take off within minutes in case of an emergency.
