| LCH (Light Civil Helicopter) | |
|---|---|
| |
| LCH prototype | |
| Role | Civil transport helicopter |
| National origin | South Korea |
| Manufacturer | Korea Aerospace Industries |
| Designer | Korea Aerospace Industries Airbus Helicopters |
| First flight | 24 July 2018 |
| Introduction | To be introduced |
| Status | During test flight |
| Number built | 2 |
| Developed from | Airbus Helicopters H155 |
The KAI LCH (Light Civil Helicopter, Korean: 소형민수헬기) is a medium-sized twin-engined civil helicopter manufactured by the South Korean aerospace manufacturer Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). It is derived from the Eurocopter EC155 and is closely related to the Light Armed Helicopter (LAH), a militarised rotorcraft intended for battlefield operations.
Development of the LCH commenced in June 2015 with an agreement between the multinational rotorcraft manufacturer Airbus Helicopters and KAI under which the former committed to transferring production of the EC155 to the latter, while the two companies would jointly market, sell, and develop the type for the international market. On 24 July 2018, the first prototype LCH made its maiden flight in Marignane, France. On 5 December 2019, the second prototype made its first flight from Sacheon, South Korea. During September 2022, type certification for the LCH was received from the South Korean aviation authorities; the first production rotorcraft was delivered in the following month.