Rotor Torque

MOH plan to offer the system as part of their integrated after sales service package on all future military helos. Of paramount interest to both MOH and Ashley though is a bid for the maintenance data contract for the US Army training fleet at Fort Rucker in the US. This contract, if successful, and Ashley have by far the most advanced and capable system on offer, will be worth around $35m to the small Victorian concern. It is also the tip of the iceberg as the US Army has evinced interest in placing the system through their entire fleet if the Fort Rucker programme is viable. Fort Rucker presently flies more than 650 helos while the US Army as a whole operates over 9,000 aircraft.

ACAMS though is not just for helos, it is for every aircraft type and is being actively marketed worldwide for a wide variety of applications. Its potential use in non aviation markets is also under investigation.

Ifr Autopilot for Bk-117

Honeywell and MBB are nearing FAA certification on their all new SPZ-7100 autopilot system for the MBB/Kawasaki BK-117 medium helo.

The system is made up of a pitch and roll coupled autopilot and flight director system with a monitored pitch axis. Digital system design, using microprocessors, enables dual FZ-710 flight control computers to self test both operating channels on a continuous basis for fail safe performance. Additionally, the systems digital design offers increased reliability and maintainability, lighter weights and lower power requirements.

As all but the most sophisticated of helicopters do not have provision for autopilot, and thus must be hand flown continuously, Honeywell foresaw a big potential market for a more cost effective system such as the SPZ-7100. Full FAA certification is expected by year end with the system becoming available publicly during 1989.

Hawker Pacific Becomes Bell Distributor

With its acquisition of Bahrain based Arabian Aviation EC, Hawker Pacific has entered its first Middle East venture and its first association with Bell Helicopter Textron. Arabian Aviation represent Bell in Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and the Arab Emirates and provide support for up to 140 helicopters in the area. The Technical Director is Ian Dallimore who is well known to Allison operators 1r1 Australia.

Helideck Proposal for Svdneyharbour

Sydney Helicopter Services are proposing a helideck as an alternative to a Sydney heliport. Their concept of a helideck is relatively simple and involves a purpose built mobile flat decked vessel to position itself within a prescribed area to receive and send off helicopters.

Using the noise footprint developed by the State Pollution Control Commission, they have been able to establish an area of operation in Sydney Harbour which encompasses the body of water east of a line from the Opera House to Kirribilli to Middle Head and 300 metres offshore. This would mean a vessel operating within this drea will be able to accommodate up to twenty helicopter movements and still satisfy the noise limits. In practice they have agreed to a limit of five movements in any one area and then to move on. They also hope to operate in the Darling Harbour area.

The operation would involve the inbound helicopter pilot notifying the vessel’s captain prior to his arrival over the Harbour as to whether he is going to droµ off or pick up passengers, the time and from which wharf. The size of the vessel would be approximately 40 metre8 long by 15 metres wide with a cleared deck area of 32×15 metres. It would have a two tiered superstructure at the bow, the lower half being for entertainment and reception and the upper half the bridge.

In order to make this project work financially, it will need to be subsidised by other activities and they are also actively seeking a sponsor.

Aha Wins ABC Contract

Aerospatiale Helicopters Australia Limited were the successful tenderer tor the recent Al:3C twin helicopter programme. AHA’s tender of the AS355F2 advanced twin Squirrel was successful and the first aircraft is scheduled for roll out at the factory on 8th October. Following air freight to Australia, the first Twin Squirrel, which will go into operation at the Gore Hill Sydney base, will have an extensive ENG refit, reputed to be the most advanced ENG definition ever incorporated in a helicopter. The first twin Squirrel is scheduled for delivery to the ABC in late January 1989.

New Dauphin for Melbourne

Aerospatiale Helicopters Australia has successfully concluded the sale of a new SA365N1 Twin Dauphin for corporate use in Melbourne. The SPIFR and corporate definition for this Dauphin leaves little doubt that it will be the most sophisticated corporate helicopter imported into Australia. Operations will be based on a new helipad in the Preston area. Final negotiations with the local council are in hand at present and construction approval is expected shortly.

AHA who have handled all aspects of this contract are expected to operate the new Dauphin on behalf of the owner via an innovative project management basis.

British Aerospace Promoting Bell/Boeing Partnership as Base for Future UK Purchase of Tiltrotor Aircraft

Since the rollout of the V-22 Osprey Tiltrotor aircraft in Texas earlier this year, British Aerospace has continued to explore the vast military potential and flexibility offered by this exciting aircraft for missions involving all the United Kingdom armed services.

The V-22 Tiltrotor is under a $1. 8bn Full Scale Development Programme for three of the US armed forces. The US Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy are scheduled to receive over 650 aircraft by the late 1990s to fulfil a variety of medium lift and transport roles. British Aerospace has identified that the versatile multi mission aircraft could significantly enhance the UK’s ability to economically discharge its commitments to NATO in the North Atlantic and Northern European theatres of operation well into the 21st century.

In the North Atlantic, the V-22 Osprey equipped with a longrange active dipping sonar, such as the BAe/Bendix Helras, could provide ship or shore based long-range anti submarine warfare capability. These aircraft could complement assets about to enter service and replace large elements of the roles of fixed wing shore based aircraft. Equipped with an integrated airborne radar, the Tiltrotor could also provide long-range ship based airborne early warning. If this aircraft is also armed with the appropriate weapons, it could provide a very effective anti surface ship capability.

In northern Europe the Tiltrotor could provide the opportunity to project the UK commando force to the very northern flanks without the need to expose valuable surface ships to attack. The Tiltrotor can also provide the deployment of reinforcements from the UK to Europe or within Europe at twice the speed and half the cost of existing methods and without the reliance upon vulnerable airfields.

Massive Brazilian Helo Buy Goes to Aerospatiale

Brazil has chosen Aerospatiale as its primary source of helicopters for the next several decades.

This far reaching decision was confirmed recently when the Brazilian Army announced the first stage of a long-term reequipment programme that will eventually involve up to 400 helicopters worth nearly $A3bn. The initial order is for 16 AS-50I Squirells and 36 SA. 365F Dauphins and is valued at just short of $A300m. The machines will be assembled locally by Helibras, 45% of which is owned by Aerospatiale. Losers in the contest were MBB/Kawasaki, Bell and Sikorsky.

Bell protested via a court injunction that the terms of the original Brazilian Army tender had been abused and the best and cheapest offer had not beenaccepted. _The decision though does cement further possible trade deals between France and Brazil of not insignificant proportions as France is presently flight testing the Embraer Tucano primary trainer with a vi!:)w to acquiring 75 as their Fouga Magister replacement. The Armee de la Air already operates 30 Embraer Xingu twin engined turboprops which are used in the liaison and training role.

Blackhawks Formally on the Flight Line

The Australian Defence Force’s new Black Hawk helicopter was formally commissioned into service with the RAAF on September 15.

At a ceremony at RAAF Base Amberley, Qld, the Minister for Defence, Mr Kim Beazley, said that the RAAF had already taken delivery of four of the thirty nine battlefield utility helicopters on order from the major sub-contractor Hawker de Havilland Ltd, which was assembling and testing the aircraft at a rate of one a month. “Although some delays have been experienced resulting in the delivery schedule being somewhat behind, the introduction of the Black Hawk into service is progressing well,” he said. “More than 40% of the contract price of $460m is being respent in Australia by Sikorsky,” he said.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Ray Funnell added that the Black Hawk is a unique acquisition for the ADF. “It is more capable than its US Army counterpart, has more powerful engines, a sophisticated automatic flight control system, a rescue hoist and improved avionics,” Air Marshal Funnell said. “The Black Hawk will also be the first aircraft in the ADF to be equipped with the newly developed Navstar Navigation System which uses satellites to provide aircraft with accurate positional information. The first 14 Black Hawks should be in service by next year and with its full complement of helicopters, the Australian Defence Force will have the capability to lift a company of 150 soldiers over a radius of 160 kilometres in a single lift,” he concluded.