Totals and company lists below filtered for North America only. Adjust site filter for other regions.

Download our free 23-page Index report
on the Eurocopter AS355

Please log in to gain free access to this download.

If you do not have a login, then please fill out our signup form and we’ll provide details.

The Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) AS355 Twin Squirrel is a light utility helicopter, a twin version of the AS350, developed and originally manufactured by Aérospatiale in France. Aérospatiale had identified a need for a civil-oriented rotorcraft, and the economic and cost effective design used a rolled sheet structure with a Starflex main rotor. The tailbone and central fuselage is of light metal and thermoformed plastics are used within the cabin.

The maiden flight of the first prototype took place on 28 September, 1979 and it entered service shortly afterwards.

The initial production version was the AS355 E, with single hydraulics and powered by two Allison 250-C20F turboshaft engines. The improved AS355F came with dual hydraulics, new rotor blades of wider chord and increased maximum weight of 2,300 kg. It was superseded by the AS355 F1 in January 1984 and the AS355F2, certified on 10 December, 1985. Both had increased maximum weights.

Deliveries of the AS355N version, powered by two FADEC-controlled Turbomeca (later Safran) Arrius 1A engines, began in early 1992. It had been certified in France in 1989, and in the UK and US in 1992. Then in 2007 came the AS355NP, with a new AS350B3-based main gearbox that increased MTOW to 2,800 kg.

Overseas production of the type saw Brazil-based manufacturer Helibras licence-assemble the AS355 from kits shipped from Eurocopter’s main production line in Marignane, France.

Production was discontinued during 2016 and the final delivery took place during the second quarter of 2017.

• Typical passenger capacity:   5
• Range:   313 nm (full seats)
• Cruise speed:   120 - 130 kts
• Cabin height:   4.25 ft
• Cabin width:   5.33 ft
• Cabin length:   6.5 ft
• Cabin volume:   129 cu ft

• Active fleet worldwide:   446
• Available for charter worldwide:   182
• Typical price:   $150,000 to $3,400,000 pre-owned.
• Production dates:   1981 - 2017

Models include AS355F, AS355F-1, AS355F-2 and AS355N TwinStars

• Engines:   Rolls-Royce 250 Series II, Safran Arrius 1 Series

Variant types

	World fleet	Charter fleet	Typical pax	Cabin volume	Cruise	Range	Years
Aerospatiale AS355E	1	1	5	167 cu ft	120 kts		1980 - 1981
Aerospatiale AS355F	63	30	5	130 cu ft	113 kts	360 nm	1981 - 1987
Aerospatiale AS355F1	48	21	5	130 cu ft	113 kts	360 nm	1981 - 1987
Aerospatiale AS355F2	142	59	5	130 cu ft	110 kts		1981 - 2001
Aerospatiale AS355N	132	56	5	130 cu ft	117 kts		1981 - 2007
Aerospatiale AS355NP	60	16	5	130 cu ft	117 kts		2007 - 2017

 

Supplemental Type Certificates

Browse or search through all recent STCs.

11/04/2023	EASA: 10035635. Compliance of C20R installation with BCAR Section G and confirmation of ability of C20R to fly one engine in operative profiles. This revision follows a transfer requested by Heli Austria GmbH. Aerospatiale AS355F2, Aerospatiale AS355F1
21/02/2023	EASA: 10081304. Dual Hook System (ref. B1310-DHS) for Human External Cargo. Aerospatiale AS355N, Aerospatiale AS350B2, Aerospatiale AS350B3, Aerospatiale AS350B, Aerospatiale AS350BA, Aerospatiale AS350B1, Aerospatiale AS355F2, Aerospatiale AS355F, Aerospatiale AS355F1, Aerospatiale AS350D, Aerospatiale AS355NP, Aerospatiale AS355E STC holder: Boost Systems
15/02/2023	EASA: 10081283. Structural provisions and equipment installation of CGG-AGG survey system. Aerospatiale AS355N, Aerospatiale AS355F2, Aerospatiale AS355F, Aerospatiale AS355F1, Aerospatiale AS355NP, Aerospatiale AS355E STC holder: PAL Aerospace
29/05/2022	EASA: EASA.R.S.01447. Installation of an airborne laser scanning equipment in AS350/355 series helicopter. Rev. 1: Component change airborne laser system (alternative camera). Rev. 2: Replacement of various equipment like data recorder, GNSS module, flight path display, controller laptop. Restriction regarding AS350 B3. Aerospatiale AS355N, Aerospatiale AS355F2, Aerospatiale AS355F, Aerospatiale AS355F1, Aerospatiale AS355NP, Aerospatiale AS355E

 

Charter operators

Canada	Blackcomb Helicopters , Canadian Helicopters , Four Seasons Aviation , Heli-Inter , Mustang Helicopters , Phoenix Heli-Flight , Slave Lake Helicopters , Talon Helicopters , Zimmer Air Services
U.S.A.	Aircam National Helicopter Services , Analar Corporation , Boston Executive Helicopters , Catalyst Aviation , Elite Rotorcraft , Magnum Helicopters , Timberland Helicopters , Wings Air Helicopters

Maintenance centres

Canada	Aeromni Aerospace , Airbus Helicopters Canada , Canadian Helicopters , Canwest Aerospace , Contour Helicopters , Delta Helitech , Eagle Copters Maintenance , EuroTec Canada , G2 Aviation , Global Air Services , Heli-Lynx Helicopters , Helimac Maintenance , Heliproducts Industries , Heliwelders Canada , Jetport , LR Helicopters , Niche Aviation , Panterra Heli Support , River City Choppers , Sierra Helicopters , StandardAero (Langley) , Structural Aviation , TRK Helicopters , Zimmer Air Services
Mexico	Airbus Helicopters Mexico , Antair
U.S.A.	Able Maintenance Center , Advanced Helicopter Services , Airbus Helicopters , Arrow Aviation Company , Big Valley Aviation , Corporate Helicopters of San Diego , EuroTec Vertical Flight Solutions , Helicopter Services of Utah , Helicopter Specialties , Nampa Valley Helicopters , Port City Air/New Hampshire Helicopters , Precision Aviation Services , Precision Heli-Support , Redding Air Service , Rotorcraft Support , Rotortech Services , RSG Aviation , RSG Aviation , Sterling Helicopter , Summit Aviation , Trans Aero , Uniflight Global

Completions centres

U.S.A.

RSG Aviation

Type rating training providers

Canada	L R Helicopters
U.S.A.	EuroSafety International

News from Business Air News

10 heli models now covered by Airwolf STC for lithium-ion batteries

January 22, 2024

Airwolf can now offer operators of Airbus, Enstrom, Hiller and MD helicopters the benefits of lower weight, faster and cooler engine starts, a longer life and the extreme cold capabilities of lithium-ion batteries.

Read the full report

AS355 FastFin certification advanced by Skywork and BLR

March 21, 2022

Skywork is helping to certify the BLR FastFin on the AS355 by the end of 2Q22. It should give operators similar performance benefits as it does to the AS350, with improvements to stability, especially in hover-hold.

Read the full report

GB Helicopters co-ordinates celebrity Twin Squirrels

December 27, 2020

Flown by Will Banks with camera operator Mike Parker, the GB Helicopters team directed a formation of AS355s as they captured all the required shots for the opening episode of TV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here.

Read the full report

November 22, 2020	Genesys says AS350 operators will be tempted by EFIS
March 5, 2019	Shuttle service enables putters and punters to get to green
April 9, 2015	DSA overhauls AS355N to lend it fresh appeal
June 9, 2014	ME & MY AIRCRAFT–Twin helicopters: Twins can be costly, yet their capability in EMEA rarely disappoints
June 9, 2014	GB Helicopters experiences the benefits of UK-wide rebranding
May 7, 2014	EBACE 2014: Meet the buyers – weighing up factory-new safeguards against the pre-owned economics
April 3, 2014	Sturdy Squirrels and versatile EC135s strengthen DGT's fleet
November 13, 2012	Oryx adds helicopter transfers to fit customer needs
June 11, 2012	Me & my aircraft: Lower maintenance and greater payload are top of twin helicopter operators' wish lists
June 8, 2011	UTair secures training approval for growing Eurocopter roster

Press Releases

Sorry, no company press releases. Please use our Feedback form to advise us.

To advise us of any errors or omissions on this page, please use our Feedback form.