Rotor Torque

Nsw Police Choose Twin

Aerospatiale Helicopters Australia has placed a secondhand Twin Squirrel with the NSW Police Force.

The helicopter, previously operated in the USA, was delivered in early October and after the fitment of police radios will start work with the unit operating from its KSA base. A full fit out of the helicopter will commence after the traditional Christmas holiday period.

Aerospatiale Helicopters hope the sale will be the start of an increasing number of the light twin helicopters with the NSW Police where they will ultimately replace the ageing Bell 206 Jetranger fleet. The Western Australian Police use a Twin Squirrel and the Queensland government has two single engine Squirrels for EMS and police work.

Notar Possible at Oakey

McDonnell Douglas is attempting to have its revolutionary MD530N Notar on show at next year’s Rotortech 91 to be held at Oakey Army Air base, just outside Brisbane, over three days from the 8th to 10th March 1991.

The helicopter, which was a star at this year’s Farnborough Air Show with its daily aerobatic display, will have just been certified at the time of the Rotortech show. Cootamundra-based Masling Helicopters has a 530N on order for demonstration purposes.

Rolls Engines for Russian Chopper

Rolls-Royce and Kamov, the Russian helicopter manufacturer and design bureau, have signed an agreement for the supply of British-built RTM322 engines for test flying in the new Ka-62R civil helicopter. Five engines will be supplied initially for test flights in the helicopter which is set for a first flight in 1993 and certification in 1995.

The Ka-62 is an advanced single engined machine with a fenestron tail built largely from composites.

Mbb Delays $ 10 Million Project

MBB Helicopters, the big German manufacturer, may abandon plans to build a $10 million facility at Wollongong’s Albion Park Airfield following restrictions imposed by the NSW Government’s State Pollution Control Commission (SPCC).

The Commission, through Wollongong Council, which operates the airport, said approval for the development should only be given if MBB agrees to limit helicopter movements at the site to no more than six a day. Legal advice given to MBB was that the SPCC would not be able to sustain a legal challenge to the limitation. MBB however has now put the project on hold until the discussions of the proposed merger between MBB and the French Aerospatiale Helicopters reach finality.

And so once again the mindless and undisciplined responses of Australian public servants have presented another reason for overseas industry to confirm any prejudices they have about Australia being a Banana Republic.

Korea Selects Black Hawk

In an industry that is mirroring, to a degree, Australia, the Korean Defence Department has selected the Sikorsky Black Hawk for its Army.

Designated the UH-60P, the helicopter, which is similar to the UH-60L, will be built by Korean Air with increasing local content – Korean Air should eventually be capable of manufacturing the entire Black Hawk airframe, with the exception of the dynamic components – with initial delivery of 90 expected over the next five years. First delivery is expected to be in December. The helicopter won the long running competition over the Bell 214ST with one of the criteria for selection, apart from compatibility with the US forces in South Korea, being the technical capabilities production of the Black Hawks will introduce to the ambitious South Korea aerospace industry which was one of the reasons, like Australia, the MDC F-18 Hornet was also selected earlier this year for production in South Korea.

Final deliveries may reach more than 200.

Bell Uses Gulf Crisis to V-22’s Advantage

Bell Helicopter is taking full advantage of the Gulf crisis to push its case to gain support for the threatened V-22 Osprey.

The results of a wargame study conducted by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California have been published, finding in favour of the tiltrotor. Although the project was commissioned prior to the invasion of Kuwait, the simulated battle was set in the Middle East, in Lebanon to be more precise. It compares the performance of the Osprey against current US Marine Corps helicopters such as the CH-60 and CH-53E.

According to the report, the effectiveness of the tiltrotor design is shown by . the fact that the V-22 could fly in first wave troops or reinforcements from ships up to 100nm (185km) offshore between two and three times faster than the conventional CH-60s and CH-53s on which theMarine Corps presently relies. With increased speed and range the V-22’s survivability is also much greater. According to the report’s authors, the greater distances to be flown in the Gulf region would be even more suited to the Osprey.

It may be that the V-22 Osprey project does go ahead, especially if the need for such an aircraft is clearly demonstrated. The advantages of its flight capabilities must, however, be seen to outweigh what many see as its limited troop carrying capability and, perhaps more importantly, its relatively high program cost.

Noise Trials for Packer’s Rooftop Pad

The CAA used an Australian Army Sikorsky Black Hawk for noise trials over the city of Sydney as part of an evaluation of a proposal to use the roof of Australian Consolidated Press’ office as a rooftop helipad. The proposal, if successful, will eventually see the Sikorsky S-76s of media mogul Kerry Packer operate from the site.

First helicopter operations from a rooftop in Sydney occurred in the 1950s when a Hiller 12 carried out several flights from the roof of David Jones, a retail store situated opposite Hyde Park, which was seen as a possible forced landing site. Until a recent updating of CAA rules, the practice was completely forbidden in Australia although it has been carried on in overseas cities for more than 20 years.

Agusta Agent Sought

Agusta is currently negotiating with five local companies for representation of its A109 medium twin helicopter in Australia and possibly parts of the Pacific area. A decision is expected by early next year.

Mixed Engines for Eh-101 Merlin

The joint Westland/Agusta EH-101 three engined helicopter will be powered by both GE CT?-6A turbos hafts or Rolls Royce RTM-322 depending on the customer.

The Italian Defence Department has selected the GE engine tor the 101s on order for its Marinavia but the Royal Navy selected the 322 for its EH-101 Merlins, mostly because of its greater scope for power upgrading to 3,000shp plus and British origins.

Chopper Flights Less Restricted

Helicopters may now be flown in Helicopter Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) within 10nm of an aerodrome with an instrument approach procedure.

Under the new change to CAA regulations helicopters will be able to fly to destinations which they were previously prohibited from landing at in weather below standard VMC. Certain conditions to the changed regulations do apply, however. The helicopter pilot is not able to land at the chosen aerodrome if another aircraft operating on Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) is landing at the aerodrome or if an aircraft operating on IFR has made a departure call as part of its departure procedure from the aerodrome. The helicopter must also remain at least one nautical mile from any other helicopter approaching the aerodrome.