During April, the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau issued new registrations for two Airbus H225 helicopters. Although initially registered to Airbus Helicopters Japan, the pair are known to be destined for SAR work with the Japan Coast Guard.

These will be the 16th and 17th H225s in the operator’s fleet.

Market Intelligence company Parapex Media has highlighted the pair as “white tail” helicopters, built 9-10 years ago and never delivered to a customer. By the time the aircraft have been fully fitted out at the Airbus Helicopters Japan base at Kobe, they will be over 10 years old.

The Manufacturer’s Serial Number on the two aircraft (2978 and 2992) are approximately 160 earlier than the latest airframes off the production line in Marignane, and other aircraft with closely adjacent numbers were delivered around 2016 and 2017.

Initially registered JA702B and JA703B, the helicopters are expected to later be re-registered as JA702A and JA703A when delivered after fit-out. The Japan Coast Guard is expected to use tactical fleet codes MH702 and MH703 as “fleet numbers”, in line with all other helicopters in their fleet.

The sale of these helicopters was announced by Airbus in April 2024, with a target delivery date of September 2026.

Parapex Media has advised us of the registration JA704B has also been reserved, which ties up with the Airbus announcement of three H225s being ordered