Rotor Torque

Rescue Helicopter Ditching

The Southern Peninsula Rescue Service helicopter ditched into Port Phillip during a routine training exercise. The helicopter was hovering a few feet above the water dropping marker buoys about two kilometres offshore when the helicopter’s skid was hit by an oversize wave, flipping the aircraft on its side. The four occupants were rescued by a yacht after they managed to leave the stricken aircraft without suffering serious injuries before it sank in 10 metres of water.

MH-53J Upgrade Work Gets Underway

Work on the stalled upgrade programme for the US Air Force Special Operations Command MH-53J Pave Low III special operations forces rescue and recovery helicopters has restarted following the rejection of an appeal from a losing bidder. The contract to perform the upgrade work on the MH-53Js has been awarded to IBM Federal Systems, which was recently acquired by Loral. The programme involves an Interactive Defensive Avionics System (IDAS) and a Multi-mission Advanced Tactical Terminal (MATT). IDAS involves integrating all of the MH-53’s electronic warfare systems into a MIL-STD-1553 databus, while MATT concerns installing an airborne receiver to receive information from a classified electronics intelligence database. This intelligence would be displayed in close to real-time on a digital map display system in the cockpit.

IBM/Loral’s current contract covers upgrading two of the USAF’s MH-53J fleet, covering engineering and trial installation, flight testing, and kit proofing. The USAF Special Operations Command will make a final decision to modify the remaining aircraft after flight testing. These MH-53J upgrades are in addition to the current Pave Low III upgrade for all 41 aircraft. This Block One upgrade involves a Service Life Extension Programme (SLEP) and Ship Board Operations (SBO) compatibility modifications, performed by the US Navy’s upgrade depot at Pensacola in Florida.

The structural strengthening, avionics, and defensive systems upgrade in the SLEP will allow the MH-53Js to remain in service until 2008 or 2010, by which time a replacement MV-22 version of the Osprey tilt-rotor would be ready for service. The structural upgrades also increase the MH-53J’s gross weight to 22,700 kg (50,000 lb), up from 19,000 kg (42,000 lb), which according to the USAF gives a payload carrying capability improvement of 45%. This is because an increased fuel load decreases the need for in-flight refuelling, greatly improving operational flexibility. The improvements for on-ship operations was a result of lessons learned in the abortive hostage rescue attempt from Iran 15 years ago and applies to all USAF H-53s. It also includes adding fully automatic main rotor and tail folding mechanisms.

Osprey Testing Continues

The Bell/Boeing V-22 Osprey flight testing fleet has successfully completed a number of additional tests, in the face of sometimes severe weather conditions since the type returned to the Naval Air Warfare Center at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in December. Recent testing has been aimed at proving the Osprey’s icing protection system. This has involved two stages of testing, the first involving in-flight testing behind a water-spraying configured USAF KC-135 tanker from Patuxent River. The second stage involves similar in-flight testing behind a Boeing CH-47 Chinook, these tests taking place from Duluth in Minnesota.

Aeroelastic testing to verify the V-22’s airframe oscillatory properties in-flight has also recently been completed. However, a decision on whether or not to proceed with Osprey production has been delayed until later this year while further reviews are undertaken. This has opened the door for at least one new contender to offer an Osprey alternative in the shape of a McDonnell Douglas built EH 101. In the meantime, though, a critical design review for the four engineering manufacturing development aircraft due to be completed by year’s end is underway, by which time the basic design should have been settled upon.

Heli Services Promotes Unique Fire Bombing Bucket

Cairns-based Heli Services has recently been promoting a unique high-capacity firefighting bucket it has made available in conjunction with a Bell 214B HeavyLifter helicopter. In recent months, Heli Services has based a 214B and bucket at Canberra airport, making it available for the remainder of the bushfire season. The company has also successfully demonstrated the great potential of such systems to Australian fire authorities.

Unlike conventional buckets, the Heli Service unit has a number of key advantages, including a 3,000-litre maximum capacity. This compares very favourably to the 400-litre buckets used by JetRangers and the 1,300-litre Bambi buckets used by military helicopters during the January NSW bushfires. In addition, the bucket can be filled from water sources as little as 20 to 30 cm deep in 60 to 90 seconds through a snorkel using an integral pump. The bucket can also inject fire retardant into the water, further increasing its efficiency, while the ejection of water can be controlled so that portions of one load can be dumped over different areas of a fire. As well, the bucket can also be used by ground-based fire units as a general-purpose water tank close to the fire front.

The huge capacity of the bucket is possible because of the lifting capabilities of the 214B. The massive power reserves of its 2,930 shp (2,186 kW) T5508D turboshaft mean that it can carry an external sling load of up to 3.2 tonnes. The advantage of the big bucket and the 214 is that it is able, for example, to do the work of as many as eight light helicopters equipped with 400-litre buckets in one hour. Heli Services is able to bring as many as four 214Bs to Australia during each fire season if needs be.

GE, Alfa Romeo & Fiat to Develop T700

General Electric, Alfa Romeo Avio, and Fiat have launched full-scale development of a growth version of the successful T700/CT7, the T700/T6E. The new powerplant is being developed primarily for the European multi-national NH 90 (which is also to be offered with Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM 322s). However, the T700/T6E will also form the basis for a possible new range of engines for a variety of future fixed and rotary-wing aircraft. These could include growth versions of the McDonnell Douglas Helicopters Apache and Sikorsky Black Hawk series and proposed S-92.

The 2,400 shp (1,790 kW) class engine will be ready for flight testing in early 1997 and, at this stage, will take to the air for the first time powering a NH 90 later that same year. The 20% improvement in power output will be courtesy of a larger compressor, which increases engine airflow. Other features include a dual-channel Full Authority Electronic Control (FADEC) system, new turbine materials, and a modified engine inlet system.

Melbourne City Heliport to be Upgraded

Jayrow Helicopters, the owners of the Yarra River heliport in Melbourne, has announced plans to greatly improve the pad’s capacity. Jayrow proposes installing a new $180,000 pontoon to increase the heliport’s ability to handle helicopter traffic. Currently, the existing pontoon can only handle one helicopter, which means that when one helicopter is on the pad, it is closed to all others. The new pontoon would be able to accommodate three helicopters at one time. It would be longer than the existing one but would extend only half as far into the river and have a lower profile. The go-ahead for the pontoon is dependent on approval from Victoria’s Department of Conservation & Natural Resources.

Moorabbin to Clean Up Act

Moorabbin Airport Manager David Stack has sent letters to 20 aircraft operators who use the airport asking them to comply with EPA regulations. This follows an environmental audit of the airport that found that operating practices and procedures need to be improved as the airport has been found to be contributing to pollution in the Mordialloc River and Port Phillip Bay.