The U.S. Coast Guard’s fleet of Eurocopter HH-65 Dolphin helicopters has passed its one million flight hour milestone. It was a Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii HH- 65C helicopter that reached the one million flight hour milestone on September 20, 2007 while on a maritime medical evacuation (Medivac) mission with the patient on board.
From the helicopter’s first delivery in 1985, HH-65s have become a key element of Coast Guard aviation, with 96 Dolphins currently operating from 17 Coast Guard Air Stations throughout the continental United States, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
The HH-65 is a version of the Eurocopter Dauphin helicopter, all the U.S. Coast Guard Dolphins have completed a conversion to the HH-65C version, which incorporated engine and system upgrades to provide more power, greater maneuverability and increased safety margins. The upgrade was performed at the U.S. Coast Guard’s Aircraft Repair and Supply Center (AR&SC), with American Eurocopter operating a supplemental conversion line at its Columbus, Mississippi facility. Accomplished as part of the Deepwater Program, the conversion was completed ahead of the Congressionally-mandated timeline.