Home / Helicopter types / Airbus AS355 Twin Squirrel
Passengers, engines, size and weight of the Airbus AS355 Twin Squirrel, and what they mean for a private landing site.
Airbus (Eurocopter) AS355 Ecureuil 2 / Twin Squirrel is made by Airbus Helicopters (formerly Eurocopter / Aerospatiale). Whether it is used on UK charter flights: Verify. The figures below are the manufacturer’s or the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) type-certificate data; each is tagged verified on the cited document or Verify.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Engines | 2 x turboshaft (250-C20F on E/F/F1/F2; Arrius 1A / 1A1 on N/NP) (AS 355 F2 / N / NP) |
| Passengers (maximum, not a typical charter layout) | 5 (all AS 355 models) |
| Typical cruise speed | not confirmed Verify |
| Range | not confirmed Verify |
| Main rotor diameter | 10.69 m (AS 355 (all models, 3 blades)) |
| Overall length, rotors turning | not confirmed Verify |
| Overall height | 3.14 m (AS 355 (all models)) |
| Maximum take-off weight | 2600 kg (AS 355 N / NP (F2 is 2,540 kg; F1 2,400 kg)) |
Figures vary by variant and weight option. Passenger numbers are a manufacturer or EASA maximum; VIP layouts carry fewer. Overall length with the rotors turning is the figure used to size a landing area and was found only for some types.
Single or twin. This is twin-engine. UK guidance says helicopters must use Performance Class 1 to operate in congested areas, and that single-engine helicopters under Part CAT cannot use congested-area sites (CAP 3043, 3.3). Read in the source
These airfields state a helicopter or visitor policy on their own websites and, in open data (OurAirports), have a runway at least 17 m long and wide (1.5 times the rotor diameter, which is the lowest the area could be). This is size only. It does not mean the airfield accepts this type: contact it first.
See also all heliports, airfields and venues. Heliport sizes are not in open data.
The maximum figure we could verify is 5 (passengers (6 with optional forward two-place seat; pilot not counted)). A charter cabin usually has fewer seats.
It depends on the helicopter’s overall size with the rotors turning (the main rotor alone is 10.69 m across), the surface, the obstacles and the operator’s own rules. UK guidance for pleasure-flying and feeder sites asks for a landing and take-off area at least 1.5D wide. The pilot in command decides on the day.
It is twin-engine (2 x turboshaft (250-C20F on E/F/F1/F2; Arrius 1A / 1A1 on N/NP)).
Maximum take-off weight is 2,600 kg (AS 355 N / NP (F2 is 2,540 kg; F1 2,400 kg)), per EASA TCDS EASA.R.146 item III.12.
Where a line is tagged Verify we could not read the primary text, or the source does not state it. Treat it as unconfirmed until you have checked.
