The last delivery was the first to be installed on-site by our specialists in the newly built FAL (Final Assembly Line) in Qingdao, in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong. The plant is the first H135 FAL outside Europe. The opening of this FAL took place after the cooperation agreement between Airbus Helicopters and China on the purchase of 100 H135s Helicopters has been signed in 2016. 95 of these 100 helicopters will be assembled in Qingdao starting this year.

The main components, such as the main fuselage, main gearbox and rear fuselage, will be delivered to China from Donauwörth, Germany and Albacete, Spain. The 6,500 square meter plant in Qingdao consists of four assembly stations, a painting cabin, ground and flight test areas as well as a delivery center. The Bucher team installed AC67 HEMS equipment at Airbus Helicopters Qingdao (China) at the Flight Line. Our very experienced specialists were able to meet the high on-site requirements for the installation, and the cooperation with the Chinese colleagues was also flawless. After the helicopter was lined entirely, our specialists started with the installation of our equipment. In addition to an electrical system installed behind the lining, this also includes various medical equipment mounts at different points in the helicopter. As a central work station for the physicians, a medical wall in the center with power supply as well as oxygen distribution system . This system is supplied by oxygen bottles, which are placed in a side window niche. The HEMS equipment consists of a stretcher system for the patient and three seats for the medical crew who care for the patient during the flight. The number of seats, as well as the remaining equipment, can be individually adapted to the customer’s wishes. The installation of the Bucher lightweight equipment is certified by the European EASA (STC) as well as the validation of the Chinese Aviation Authority CAAC. You can find more information about our equipment at:

“We are particularly proud of this work, because it highlights some of the skills and in-depth knowledge we have gained since the company was founded in 1953. It also provides a good behind-the-scenes look in to our company,” says Beat Burlet, CEO of Bucher Leichtbau AG.

In just a few minutes, this video will give you an impression of our core business: lightweight monuments. Bucher stands for openness, respect, reliability, integrity, trust and commitment. Our customers feel these values through our personal and professional approach and experience them as the result of their projects.

Bucher products are durable and robust resulting in very low total cost of ownership throughout their lifecycle. In addition, they are designed to be recycled up to 95% at the end of their life cycle.

Quality is in our blood at Bucher and has been since the company was founded in 1953 by Heinrich Bucher. It was Heinrich’s vision and drive for producing lightweight galleys that propelled the company forward in its infancy. To this day, Bucher has not only refined and optimized its unique aluminum-based design principle but it has also expanded its offerings to include composite and carbon solutions. These developments over the years have enabled the company to remain flexible and to adapt its products to individual customer requirements. Bucher remains to this day a reliable partner for all projects in Aircraft Interiors!

With the A330neo, Airbus is introducing the new “Airspace” cabin concept. Flexible zones in the aircraft enable the optimum formation of the cabin crew’s workspace, and the innovative design also provides passengers and crew with a new travel experience. During the development, the focus was placed on the passengers but also on the crew’s mode of operation, with the result that the interior layout is very comfortable and achieves a pleasant ambience while also allowing the passenger to be spoilt with first-class service.

Bucher Leichtbau is proud to have been given the opportunity to develop and manufacture the well-known Bucher galleys for the Portuguese “launching operator”. The great challenge here was to develop galleys that were appropriately light, safe and which conformed to the specifications while also adapting to the customer’s requirements, taking into account functionality and ergonomic considerations.

Joel Fragata, Head of In-Flight Product for the cabin outfitting at TAP Air Portugal: “Bucher has equipped this wonderful aircraft with efficient and well-designed galleys. The galley specification for the A330neo was an enormous challenge and Bucher accepted to be part of this great project and adventure. We were convinced that they would be up to the job.We know the company from previous projects and have always been highly satisfied with the continuous and personal service and the resulting products, the reliable galleys. These impresses, amongst other things, due to their exceptional quality and the very low maintenance costs throughout the plane’s lifetime. Bucher Leichtbau has once again wowed us with its performance, flexibility, quality and reliability. For years, we have placed great trust in the craftsmanship and expertise of this leading galley provider.”

Bucher lives and breathes quality, something that can be traced back to the company’s founder. The original founder Heinrich Bucher was inspired by the idea of manufacturing galleys in a lightweight construction out of aluminium, with the guiding thought behind this being to fly with the minimum of weight and the highest degree of reliability. Bucher has been refining and optimising this unique lightweight construction principle ever since. However, Bucher also offers composite solutions, which allows the company to be flexible and able to adjust the products to individual customer requirements.

Once again this year Bucher was part of this impressive exhibition. In addition to the live demonstrations at our booth, visitors to the Airbus Helicopters booth had been able to have a look at a H145 equipped with Bucher‘s AC70-HEMS equipment. Furthermore Airbus presented the H160 with our new HEMS concept. This was the ideal stage to present our new Side/ Rear Load Stretcher.

Side/ Rear Load Stretcher
An absolute novelty is our modular Side/ Rear Load Stretcher, which is already in use at one of our most valued customers. In close collaboration with the rescue teams of two reference customers, we have designed the stretcher to meet the requirements of rescue operations even more effectively. New functionalities such as intuitive, quick and easy loading, a one-hand-adjustable backrest, approved by Bucher for the “taxi, take-off and landing” phase, and V-shaped comfort handles adapted to the anatomy of the human body are just a few of the many innovations. And best of all, we enable both smooth rear loading and highly ergonomic side loading. The functional design also ensures maximum flexibility for patient care – essential in critical situations.

If you could not participate at Helitech, but are interested in our equipment, let one of our experts explain our novelties and products to you. 

Modular equipment options
Learn more about Bucher’s modular equipment options. Because our products have been designed to be used interchangeably, it is possible to use various elements of the AC67 HEMS equipment in an H145 or elements of the AC70 in an H135. One example is the multifunctional Center Cabinet with optional cabin heating and/or heat compartment for infusion bottles including spacious storage compartments. We also offer a wide range of standard interface mounts for medical devices, which are included in all new HEMS kits from Bucher Leichtbau.

This interchangeability allows us to configure the equipment for any application with maximum flexibility, modular and individually adapted to the customer.  According to this, the weight of the helicopter can be reduced depending on the application.