Metro Aviation has revealed its medical interior concept for the H140 at the Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC) in Fort Worth, Texas this week, introducing a modular design developed in close collaboration with Airbus as well as years of feedback from air medical operators.
The interior takes advantage of the H140’s larger cabin and redesigned rear floor compared with the H135. Unlike the H135’s rounded rear floor edge, the H140 features a straight rear edge that allows stretchers to align squarely with the cabin entrance, reducing the potential for misalignment or slipping during loading and unloading.
The concept incorporates a centralised medical console, multiple equipment mounting locations, an aft storage cabinet and provisions for a powered stretcher system. Together, these features are designed to improve access to critical equipment, maximize usable cabin space and support a variety of medical transport requirements.
“We’ve spent years listening to what medical crews need from their aircraft,” said Amy McMullen, Director of Aircraft Configuration at Metro Aviation. “With the H140, we have an opportunity to take that feedback and develop an interior around how they actually work, rather than asking them to adapt to the aircraft.”
Metro has collaborated extensively with Airbus throughout the H140’s development, providing operator feedback and working alongside the manufacturer to evaluate cabin functionality and medical transport requirements during multiple visits to the manufacturer’s facilities in Germany.
“Airbus has been incredibly receptive throughout this process,” said Shawn Bruton, Part 145 Director of Maintenance at Metro Aviation. “We’ve worked closely with their team to help shape the interior of an aircraft that addresses many of the challenges we’ve seen in previous platforms.”
The mockup displayed at AMTC represents an initial concept rather than the final production design. Metro will use the conference to gather feedback from medical crews and operators, helping guide continued development and refinement of the interior.
“What we’re bringing to AMTC is a starting point,” Bruton explained. “We want people to walk through it, tell us what works, tell us what doesn’t, and help us make it better.”
Metro Aviation is the US launch customer and will receive North America’s first aircraft to develop and obtain its own Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the air medical interior. Which it expects to do in 2028. Metro currently has firm orders for 12 H140s with delivery expected between 2028 and 31 but in has options on a further 24 helicopters bringing the current commitment to as many as 36 if all options are exercised.
Image: Metro Aviation
