Airbus H140 Light Twin Enters 'Year of Testing' in 2026

The new helicopter model is on track for certification in 2028 as Airbus ramps up production.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The new Airbus H140 light twin helicopter has entered 'the year of testing' in 2026, according to the type's head of program, Dirk Petry. The H140, developed from the H135 with significant design enhancements, has already received over 100 orders since its unveiling in 2023. Airbus is now conducting extensive flight testing with three prototypes, including hot and high, cold, and snow campaigns, as it prepares the aircraft for certification and entry-into-service in 2028.

Why it matters

The H140 is a critical new model for Airbus as it competes in the light twin helicopter market, particularly for emergency medical services (EMS) missions, which represent the majority of orders so far. The extensive testing program in 2026 is a key milestone as Airbus works to certify the aircraft and ramp up production to meet customer demand.

The details

Airbus has three H140 prototypes (PT1, PT2, and PT3) currently in the flight test program, with a fourth prototype (PT4) in production to be used for major certification testing. The prototypes have already conducted hot and high testing in Spain and the French Pyrenees, as well as cold weather testing in Finland and snow testing in Norway. Airbus is now preparing the aircraft for a certification summer campaign in the U.S., including testing in Leadville, Colorado. The company is also ramping up industrial and support systems for the H140, with PT4 to be completed on the serial final assembly line, followed by the first serial production aircraft.

  • In 2023, the first prototype (PT1) of the H140 began flight testing.
  • Over the last 12 months, flight test hours have grown dramatically with the addition of a second and third prototype (PT2 and PT3) to the test campaign.
  • In the summer of 2023, PT1 performed hot and high testing in Spain and the French Pyrenees.
  • In December 2025, PT2 flew to Finland for cold testing, followed by the start of a snow campaign in Norway.
  • In early 2026, PT3 joined the flight test program, and PT1 was decommissioned.

The players

Dirk Petry

Head of the H135 and H140 programs at Airbus.

Airbus

An aerospace corporation that develops and manufactures civil and military helicopters, among other aircraft.

H140

A new light twin helicopter model developed by Airbus, with significant design enhancements from the H135.

Metro Aviation

A U.S. company that Airbus is in discussions with regarding emergency medical services (EMS) kits for the H140.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The year [20]26 for the H140 program is the year of testing. So we are in front of major campaigns with the prototypes we have, and in parallel, we are also executing so-called off aircraft tests — where we validate individual components or assemblies of the aircraft under [a] certification environment.”

— Dirk Petry, Head of the H135 and H140 programs at Airbus

“Now we need to rely on heavier snow conditions in Norway, primarily to validate the air intake under snow conditions.”

— Dirk Petry, Head of the H135 and H140 programs at Airbus

What’s next

The H140 will return to Donauworth, Germany, to begin layup for a certification summer campaign, which will be completed in the U.S. in Leadville, Colorado, along with one or two other places, beginning in the 'early summer' of 2026.

The takeaway

The extensive testing program for the Airbus H140 in 2026 is a critical step in the aircraft's journey to certification and entry-into-service in 2028, as Airbus works to meet growing customer demand, particularly in the emergency medical services market.