1990 Helicopter Operators Directory

Forestry Commission of NSW, GPO Box 2667, Sydney, 2001. (02) 234 1567 NSW Department of Main Roads, PO Box 198, Haymarket, 2000. (02) 218 6888 NSW Electricity Commission, c/o PO, Eastern Creek, 2766. (02) 625 8331

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Tower Rd, Bankstown Airport. 2200 NSW Pipeline Authority, PO Box 495, Young, 2594.

Premiers Dept, Qld Government, George St, Brisbane, 4000.

Military

The Australian Army presently operates 41 Kiowas (Bell 206), of an original 56 assembled and/or built under licence by the then Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation. Responsibility for the previously RAAF operated Aerospatial Squirrels has been transferred to the Army, and they are now used to train Army and Navy pilots at the Australian Defence Force Helicopter School based at Fairbairn, Canberra. Also transferred from the RAAF were 10 Iroquois, which are used for utility work and training. Of the 39 Sikorsky S-70A Black Hawks ordered, 29 ·are now operational (at presstime) and are based in Townsville with the Army’s 5th Aviation Regiment.

With the transfer of the Squirrels and Iroquois to the Army and the decommissioning of the Chinooks in June 1989, the Royal Australian Air Force no longer operates helicopters.

The Royal Australian Navy operates six Aerospatiale Squirrels, three Bell Kiowas, seven Westland Sea Kings and seven S-708 Seahawks. The Westland Wessex was decommissioned at the end of last year after 27 years of service.

Below is a brief description of the helicopter types currently registered in Australia. Following that is a list of the civil registrations for that particular type of helicopter. Ownership can be found by using the Australian Civil Aircraft Register as found in the May, June and July issues of Australian Aviation, with updates appearing in subsequent issues.

Aerospatiale SA330 Puma(France)

First flying in 1965 the Puma was designed to meet French military requirements for a medium lift, all weather twin engined helicopter. The three Pumas on the Australian register are 330J variants which

are equipped with two 1,575shp Turbomeca Turmo IVC turboshaft

engines and have been operated by Bristow Helicopters of Western

Australia since 1982. They are primarily used for offshore oil rig support and can carry up to sixteen passengers. Number registered at 31/7/90: 3 VH-WOD WOE WOF

Aerospatiale AS350 Ecureuil(France)

More commonly known in Australia as the Squirrel, this machine is a five seat general purpose helicopter that first flew in 1974. It was intended as a successor to the SA318 Alouette and was designed with the emphasis on low operating costs. All helicopters of this type in Australia, with two exceptions, are 3508 models equipped with the 641 Turbomeca Arriel engine. JRD and NBN (formerly ECZ) are 350D models, powered by a 592shp Avco Lycoming engine. The Squirrels previously operated by the RAAF have been transferred to the Army, and are based with the Australian Defence Force Helicopter School at Fairbairn Canberra. Another six are operated by the RAN (serial numbers N22-013 to 018) for training purposes. Number registered at 31/7/90: 24 VH-AFO BHX BLA CPA HBA HOO HRF HRR HRS HRX HTV HVT JRD NBN NFO PTH PVM SES SGK SRB SUF TOY TVG XMR

Aerospatiale as355f Twinsquirrel(France)

The Twin Squirrel is a development of the AS350 Squirrel and first flew in 1979, entering production in 1981. TheAS355F is equipped with two 425shp Allison 250-C20F turboshafts. Number registered at 31/7/90: 10

VH- HJK HPB HRA HRT HSG HWA NJL NTV NWA XTV

Aerospatiale SA365 DAUPHIN2(France)

The Dauphin is produced in two versions, the single engine SA360 equipped with a 1,050shp Turbomeca Astazou engine, and the twin SA365 powered by two 641 Turbomeca Arriel turboshafts. The latter first flew in 1975 and was Aerospatiale’s first entry into the twin executive helicopter market There are four Dauphins in Australia, three being operated by the Victorian Police Force and HCF by the Careflight rescue service based in Sydney. Number registered at 31/7/90: 4 VH – HCF PVA PVF PVK

A Gus Ta A109(Italy)

The twin engineAgustaA109 is the first helicopter developed by the Agusta Company specifically for a civilian role and the prototype first flew in 1971. The first example in Australia, MOB, was registered in August 1983 by Mimair of Queensland. The NSW Government operates two – DMR (Department of Main Roads) and NEC (Electricity Commission). The A109 Mk11 is powered by two 420shp Allison 250 turboshafts and can seat up to eight passengers. Number registered at 31/7/90: 7 VH-AUG DMR KES LHJ LUI MOB NEC

Bell 47(USA)

First flown in 1946, this is the helicopter made famous by the ‘MASH’ television series. The 4 7 was used extensively by the Australian Army between 1961 and 1977, when they were replaced by the Bell 206 Kiowa.

The basic model, the 47G, is a three seater with a bubble cockpit, whilst a later development, the 47J Ranger, is a four seater with enclosed tail boom first flown in 1954 and powered by a 305hp Lycoming engine. There are five 4 7 J Rangers in this country-JAV, KHX, KHZ, NHR and THH.

An American company, Soloy,now supplies converted airframes or conversion kits so that the helicopter can take an Allison 250 turboshaft engine resulting in increased performance.

The Bell 47G was also manufactured under licence by Agusta in Italy and Kawasaki in Japan, with MOU being the sole Agusta built machine in Australia, whilst twelve Kawasaki built aircraft operate locally. The 47 series is popular for cattle mustering and pilot training. Number registered at 31/7/90: 90

VH-AAU AEO AET AEG ANG BHM BHR BHT CHO CSE CSI CSJ CSM CSW DUS FJP FUW HSY HFV HGM HHS HMI HMJ HMK HSA JAJ JAV JCN JHM JGF JKO JKR JKV JKW JKX JKZ JLB JRF JWA JWB JWC JWJ JWI JWQ JWZ KEB KHJ KHK KHM KHO KHU KHY KHZ KSJ KSL KSM KSO KSU LEF LEH MOU MZU NAG NHR NKE NXB OCT ORB ORC ORM OUT PIV PSH RFE RFY SJI SKU SJA SRO sue sxo THH TZW UAF UHA UTQ UTY WHF WHS WHX

Bell Model 205(Uh-1H Iroquois)(USA)

Designed as a medium lift transport helicopter for the US Army, the military version of the 205, the Iroquois, first flew in 1958. The RAAF had been operating the Iroquois since 1961, however they were withdrawn from the service late last year. The Papua New Guinea Defence Force have two ex RAAF machines, and 10 have been transferred to the Australian Army for utility work and training purposes. The fate of the remaining 12 has yet to be decided by the Defence Department. The Model 205 is a fifteen seat commercial variant of the Iroquois powered by a 1,400shp Lycoming turboshaft engine. First introduced into Australia in 1968, it was used extensively for oil rig support, however it was eventually replaced in that roleby the Sikorsky S-76. At present there are two Model 205s and one UH-1H on the civil reqister. UHE, the UH-1H, is an ex Argentinian machine that was captured by the British during the Falklands War and is now owned by Helicopter Developments (BH Pacific) of Brisbane. It is used as a developmental test bed for upgrading the Iroquois which includes the replacement of the existing turboshaft engine and the addition of a Bell 212 main rotor blade. Number registered at 31/7/90: 3 VH – JOR NHA UHE

Bell 206JE Trangerandlongranger(USA)

The prototype of the Jetranger first flew in January 1966 and deliveries began at the end of that year. The 2068 is powered by a single 420shp Allison 250 turboshaft engine and seats five. The military version, the Kiowa, was built locally, under licence, by the then Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation for the Australian Army and the RAN. Fifty are presently operated by the Army, and three by the RAN. The Agusta Company has also built many under licence, four of which are registered in Australia-SEQ, SHI, BHL and LEC.

The Jetranger is popular for television news coverage and for power and gas line inspections. The NSW Police Department have three – PHW, PHY and PHX, the latter having been repaired after ditching into the sea in July of last year. Dick Smith conducted the first around the world solo helicopter flight between August 1982 and July 1983 in 2068 DIK, and in April of 1987, again in DIK, he made the first solo helicopter flight to the North Pole. The prototype of the Longranger first flew in 1974 and has a longer fuselage and greater range than the Jefranger. With seating for 7 it was designed to fill the gap in the Bell range between the 206 and the 205. The 206L is powered by a 420shpAllison 250 turboshaft and the 206L-1 by a 500shp Allison 250-C28B turboshaft. Number of Jetrangers registered at 31/7/90: 111

VH-AAL AFV AGL AHL AHV AJI AJU ALV AND ANL ATS AZD AZH SEQ BHF SHI BHL BHS SHU SHY BIO BJG 8KG BLD BLJ BLN BLO BLP SLR BPS BTV CBI COW CWO D18 DIK FHA FHF FHV FHW FHX FHY FHZ FJC FJE FJO FSN FUS FUX FVF HFF HHH HKB HPO HRS HRE HRZ HST HWS HZO JBQ JHN JRE JMN JRO JSM JVW JWE JWF JWN JWM JVW KHR KKY LAL LEC LHA MHW MIS MXW NIM NRS 0KB PCR PGI PHA PHW PHY PHZ PMO PMR RLVRMJ SAi SBG SEE SRN SWH SWI TFH TMR UBH UEE UOD UOR UPT UTS WCF WNA WOK XDM

Number of Longrangers registered at 31/7/90: 20 VH- BHF BJX BKU BLV CKI ECT FTV HHS HJG HJL HOY JOW LIN LKU LTH MQA SCV SHH TCH UTL

Bell Model 212(USA)

The Model 212 is a twin engined development of the Bell 205 and the civil version was first certified in 1970. The Pratt and Whitney PT6T-38 engines were designed especially for this model and drive the two bladed rotor through a common gearbox.

Twin engines are a requirement of the Civil Aviation Authority for overwater operations and therefore the 212 is used extensively in oil rig support. Australian 212s are operated by Bristow Helicopters, Lloyd Helicopters and the Esso Company. Number registered at 31/7/90: 11 VH – BEE BEL BEU BEY EMI EMJ HVX LAM NSANSU NSY

Bell Model 214s T(USA)

Originally the initials ‘ST’ were to describe the 214 as a ‘Stretched Twin’, but the Bell company have now changed this to ‘Super Transport’. The 214ST was initially developed as a military transport helicopter forproduction and service in Iran, with the prototype first flying in 1977. LAO was the first of its type in Australia arriving in 1986, but during the early part of 1988 it crashed into the Timor Sea. Both 214s presently on the register are operated by Lloyd Helicopters of Adelaide. The 214ST is equipped with two 1,625shp General Electric CT7-2A turboshafts connected to a combining gearbox and can carry up to 18 passengers. Number registered at 31/7/90: 2 VH-HOQ LAT

Bell Model 412 (USA)

The 412 is a further development of the Model 212 w1th the prototype first flying in 1979. It was the first production Bell helicopter with a four bladed rotor, which makes for improved per formance and quieter operations. The 412 is powered by an 1,800shp Pratt and Whitney PT6T turboshaft and can carry up to 15 passengers. The North Queensland Emergency Rescue Service based in Townsville operates NSB. Esso uses EEH and EEP, and Lloyds the remaining five. Number registered at 31/7/90: 8 VH-BZH EEH EEP NSB NSC NSP NSV UAH

Enstrom F28 and F280 (USA)

The Enstrom Company was formed in 1959 to develop and produce a small helicopter for commercial and private use and the F28 was the result. First flown in 1963, production of the F28 and F280 models ceased in 1978, to be replaced by turbocharged versions, the 28C and 280C. Current production models are the F28F Falcon and 280F Shark, which are equipped with 225hp Avco Lycoming HI0-360-F1AD engines. Enstrom has recently developed a turbine powered variant, designated the 480, which is powered by an Allison 250 engine. Number registered at 31/7/90: 6 VH-FSE FSP HAH IPE IYR JAX

Hiller Uh-12 (USA)

Certified in 1948, the UH-12 is available as a three seat basic model or, since 1960, in four seat configuration-the UH-12E4. In 1970 a subsidiary of Fairchild Industries purchased the production rights to the UH-12E which comes with either a petrol driven 323hp Lycoming engine or an Allison 250 turbine. Number registered at 31/7/90: 23 VH-CCU CCV ECK ECQ FBE FBH FBQ FBV FBX FFT FFU FFV FFX FOR FXX HJW HMT KAU LMA MJV MKZ PYH UHB

Hughes 300 (Model 269) (USA)

First flying in 1956 and in production since 1961, the Model 269 was originally designed as a training helicopter for the US Army. The Hughes 300 is popular in Australia for cattle mustering, agricultural work and pilot training. The 300C, which has been produced by the Schweizer Company since July 1983, is the most popular of the three 300 models currently in use in Australia. It is powered by a 190shp Avco Lycoming HI0-360-D1A engine. Number registered at 31/7/90: 65 VH-ACD AHQ AJC APO AUQ BBS BCB CHM CHV FHJ HAK HEA HFC HFU HJD HOB HOR HUP IHD IHV IHW JBU JMY JQW JWK KHO KKC KKG KKJ KLQ LBQ MAY MHJ MHM MQF MQI MZR NCL NHM OBK PHN PHT PHU PKK PSK RIK SIH SMQ SWQ TES THE THJ THM THN THQ THR THU THVTHY UFX UOS WPP WZH XBN XXM

Hughes 500 (Model 369) (USA)

The Hughes 500 is a commercial variant of a light observation helicopter developed for the US Army, with the prototype first flying in 1963. Available in three versions, the basic with seating for up to seven, the five seat executive and a utility model. In 1984 McDonnell Douglas took over production and development of the 500D series, resulting in the MDSOOE. Both the D model, which is no longer in production, and the E model have a five bladed main rotor and T-tail, which gives greater stability. The 500E is a longer and sleeker version of the 500D and is powered by an Allison 250-C20B engine. There are four MD500Es on the Australian register-FIS, HXF, JBE and JHE. Number registered at 31/7/90: 24 VH-AJZ BAD BAG FTS HED HRJ HRK HUE HXF HZZ JBE JDM JHE LLC LYM NOC PHL PPD RMS SWC WOR XAX XTX

Mbb – BO105 (West Germany)

Built by the Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH aerospace company, and first flying in February 1967, the Bo105 is a twin engined light utility helicopter seating five to six passengers and equipped with two Allison 250 turboshafts. The Bolkow is used extensively in the medivac field, with MBL operated by Child Flight for the Childrens Hospital at Camperdown, NSW. Number registered at 31/7/90: 2 VH-LCS MBL 24

Robinson R22 (USA)

The lightest and cheapest helicopter massed produced, the prototype first flew in 1975, but it wasn’t until 1981 that an example was imported into Australia. The R22 is Australia’s most popular helicopter. There have been four models-the original R22, R22 Alpha, and the R22 Beta which has been the production model since 1985. Robinson have recently developed a four seater, the R44, which is powered by a 260hp Lycoming engine. The Mariner is the amphibious version of the R22 Beta with three registered in Australia-COS, HBS and HII. The R22B holds the altitude record for its class of light helicopter with a height of 16,522ft (5,037m). Seating two and powered by a 150hp AvcoLycoming engine, it is popular for pilot training and cattle mustering. Number on register at 31/7/90: 159 VH-BCR COO CIU COS DBQ ECP EFK FHD FHE FHK FOT HAP HAS HAU HBC HBO HBE HBF HBG HBH HBK HBL HBN HBO HBQ HBR HBS HBT HBU HBV HBW HBZ HEB HEE HEF HEG HEM HEU HEV HEW HFO HFP HHF HIG HII HIJ HIM HIW HLA HLB HLC HLI HLJ HLK HMR HMY HPR HQX HRO HRU HRW HRY HRZ HSC HTA HTE HTF HTJ HYZ HZB HZP IBE IOT IXM IXN IXR IXS JOB JFG JIU JKG JKH JKI JKJ JKK JKL JKM JKN JKS JKQ JNA JNH JNO JNP JNI JOT JTG JTH JUQ JZD JZF JZG JZO JZP JZQ JZR JVB JVC JWG JWT JWL JWV KHI KEE KIS KMS KSI KSY LCH LCR LOE LKS LOA LOH LOT LSW LUM NOT NOC NOT NRJ NWJ ONE PYG RBO RJN SRP TGS THI THP UXA UXB UXD UXF UXH UXJ UXL UXM UXQ UXR UXT UXU UXV UXW WKF XKS XOX XVC XZT

Sikorsky S-55 (USA)

The prototype of the Sikorsky S-55 first flew in 1949, but it wasn’t until June of 1985 that two were imported from America and Australia saw this twelve seat general purpose helicopter in operation. The standard S-55 is powered by a 550hp Pratt & Whitney R1340 engine. Number registered at 31/7/90: 2 VH-ORA ORL

Sikorsky S-62 (USA)

The S-62 was designed for amphibious operations with the bottom of the fuselage being watertight and strengthened to allow water landings. First flying in May 1958, the Sikorsky S-62A is equipped with a single 1,250shp General Electric CT58-110 engine and carries a crew of two and up to 10 passengers. Two S-62s were imported from China in late 1986 by Librair of Nambour. One, NWC, is still with the company and is used for tourist operations on the Sunshine Coast. The other, NWB, was chartered for operations on Bougainville Island, but was burnt and destroyed by rebel forces on the island in January of this year. Number registered at 31/7/90: 1 VH-NWC

Sikorsky 5- 70 Black Hawk and Seahawk (USA)

Designed to replace the US Army’s Iroquois, the S-70A-9 Black Hawk first flew in 1974. It can carry all elements of a 10 man infantry squad, and is equipped with two General Electric T?OOA-1 turboshafts. Twenty nine, of the original 39 ordered, at presstime were in service with the Army’s 5th Aviation Regiment at Townsville. Of those, all but the first were assembled by Hawker de Havilland at Bankstown. The S-70B-2 Seahawk is similar to the Black Hawk but with changes to provide shipboard compatability. Seven, of the original 16 ordered, have (at presstime) been delivered to the Navy, and all will operate from the RAN’s FFG-7 class guided missile frigates. In addition to the ASW (Anti Submarine Warfare) role, the helicopter will be configured for surface surveillance and targeting tasks. Aerospace Technologies of Australia (formally the GAF) are responsible for assembling the eight locally produced models, the first of which began flight testing in May of this year.

Sikorsky S-76 (USA)

The S-76 was designed to satisfy three major markets-offshore oil rig support, executive transpor t and general utility operations, and the prototype first flew in 1977. The S-76 can seat up to 14 and is powered by two 650shp Allison 250-C30 turboshafts. The Esso Company operates six for offshore oil and gas rig support, whilst several are used in VIP configuration including one, JXL, operated by the Elders IXL company. Number registered at 31/7/90: 15 VH-CPH CPQ ECR ECS EML EMN EMM EMX HRP HRQ HUB HUC JXL XHA XHB

Westland Sea King (UK)

The Sea King is a development of the Sikorsky S-61 and first flew in 1969. It has been used by the RAN for anti submarine operations and search and rescue since 1974. The RAN operates seven, of an original twelve, which are based at HMAS Albatross, Nowra. The Sea King Mk. 50 is powered by two 1,500shp Rolls Royce Gnome H1400 turboshafts