When rescue helicopters take off, a few seconds can make all the difference. Whether they’re responding to a car accident in a city center, flying on a rescue mission in the mountains, or battling strong winds at sea - the extreme conditions place very high demands on the material. The Eurocopter EC135 has proven its reliability in air rescue operations thanks to its optimal safety and stability.The light and agile Eurocopter, produced since 1996 by the company with the same name, can handle all these requirements. The rotors are stable, yet flexible and lightweight; the engines are reliable and powerful. Often, it's not only the pilots' lives that depend on them. Another safety element is invisible, even though it’s right under their noses: the front windscreen. This provides a panoramic view, but it's not made from glass. It is Plexiglas from Evonik that protects pilots from UV rays, offering them clear visibility and maximum safety during a rescue mission.
Key advantages
"Plexiglas is twice as light as traditional mineral glass," says Gottfried Hornung, who is overseeing the completion of the EC135 at Eurocopter. This reduces fuel usage and means that rescue teams can stay in the air for longer. All the transparent glazing on the EC135 model - front, side, and rear - is made from this modern material. "For safety reasons, glass is unsuitable. If an accident occurs, such as a bird strike, glass breaks into thousands of tiny pieces and impairs visibility," explains Hornung. "This risk doesn't exist with Plexiglas - only the directly affected area is damaged." There are more benefits: The sheets are especially easy to shape and provide pilots with a panoramic view - an important aspect in spherical helicopter canopies.
