First 1,000 flight-hours milestone for the new Spanish Navy H135 P3H Helicopters

The AIRBUS H135 P3H training and support helicopter has reached 1,000 flight hours as part of the 12^th Aircraft Fleet Squadron (FLOAN in its Spanish initials).

During these fifteen months, it is worth highlighting the main missions conducted; namely those related to Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), logistic support flights and medical evacuations that have been carried out on board the LPD ‘Galicia’ and the auxiliary oiler and replenishment (AOR) ‘Cantabria’. In addition to familiarization drills with midshipmen at the Naval Academy (ENM), the selection of pilots and the first Naval Helicopter Pilot course, among others.

In these thousand flight hours and multiple training activities, the helicopters, operating as Embarked Air Units (UNAEMB), have participated with the above-mentioned ships ‘Galicia’ and ‘Cantabria’, as well as with other units (UNADEST) in Cartagena and in the Naval Academy of Marín, respectively.

Pressurized fuel replenishment, manual folding of the main rotor, reinforced anti-corrosion treatment and floating system are some of the features that make this Airbus H135 P3H so special and capable of operating on Navy ships. For all these reasons, the H135 P3H (dubbed NIVAL in the Armada) has proved to be the ideal aircraft for naval aviation training.

Currently, the 12^th Aircraft Squadron maintains a UNAEMB on board the ‘Cantabria’ with which it contributes to establishing a safe maritime environment in the Mediterranean Sea in NATO's Operation ‘Noble Shield’ and, at the end of this month, another unit will be deployed to the Naval Academy. During the first half of 2025, it is expected to receive the last two helicopters of the 7 units included in the procurement program.