About Airbus Helicopters & Fuel Consumption
Airbus Helicopters are globally recognized for their reliability and versatility in civil, corporate, emergency medical, offshore, and military applications. Fuel burn varies widely depending on the model, mission profile, and load carried.
Factors Influencing Fuel Consumption:
- Helicopter Size & Engines: Light models like the H120 are fuel-efficient, while heavy-lift models like the H225 Super Puma consume much more.
- Mission Profile: Hovering, search and rescue, and tactical operations use more fuel than cruising flight.
- Payload & Conditions: Additional weight, high altitude, and hot weather all raise fuel usage.
- Fuel Type: Airbus helicopters generally use Jet-A or Jet-A1, though some can run on Avgas or sustainable aviation fuel blends.
Formulas Used:
- Fuel Used = Burn Rate (liters/hour) × Flight Hours
- Total Cost = Fuel Used × Price per Liter
- CO₂ Emissions = Fuel Used × Emission Factor (kg CO₂/L)
Example:
An Airbus H145 flying for 2.5 hours on Jet-A1 fuel at ₹95/liter:
- Fuel Used = 300 × 2.5 = 750 liters
- Total Cost = 750 × 95 = ₹71,250
- CO₂ Emissions = 750 × 2.45 = 1837.5 kg CO₂
