Rotor Torque

The aircraft will be required to have a 360-degree search radar, ESM, a FLIR and an integrated anti-ship missile.

Leading contenders include the Eurocopter Panther (Dauphin), Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite, Sikorsky S-76N and the Westland Lynx. For further details refer Defence Update elsewhere in this issue.

Westland Signs Anzac Helicopter Teaming

Westland has formed an industry team with AWA Defence Industries (AWADI), British Aerospace Australia and Air New Zealand Engineering to bid for the RAN’s requirement for helicopters for its ANZAC frigates and proposed Offshore Patrol Combatants.

AWADI is already involved with assisting Westland with definition of the RAN Lynx mission system. AWADI would also play a major role in through-life support of the Lynx mission software. BAe Australia meanwhile will be involved in Lynx maintenance support (building on the relationship Westland and BAe Australia have already established with the Sea King life extension upgrade). Finally, Air New Zealand would be responsible for through-life support of the Lynx’s engines. Air New Zealand is already teamed with Westland in offering the Lynx to meet the Royal New Zealand Navy’s similar helicopter requirement.

A teaming agreement was signed in Adelaide in early October. Over 370 Lynx helicopters have been delivered worldwide.

NH Industries Looks At Costs

NH Industries, the consortium responsible for the design and development of the NH 90 helicopter, has begun looking at ways of reducing the aircraft’s unit costs.

NH Industries’ partner countries France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands between them have a stated requirement to procure 726 NH 90s, both in its navy and land-based variants. However, industry observers speculate that this number would be significantly reduced on cost grounds.

The decisions on NH 90 funding production are not due to be made until 1998.

NH Industries has initiated studies into reducing the aircraft’s cost itself. Cost-cutting measures identified include redefining the specification of the basic aircraft, reducing the final assembly lines (one each in France, Germany and Italy) to just one, and offering mission-specific equipment as options, allowing customers to specify the equipment fit they can afford.

The current NH 90 TTH unit price is FF90m ($A24.3m), while the naval NH 90 NFH has a sticker price of FF145m ($A39.2m). First flight is due by the end of the year.

Rescue Sparks Criticism Of Nsw Emergency Helicopter Plan

Careflight has again criticised the NSW Government’s plan to reduce the number of Sydney-based EMS helicopters to two following the recent rescue of a woman south of Wollongong.

The Careflight 412 winched the woman out of Macquarie Pass south of Wollongong recently after she began suffering an allergic reaction to an insect bite. At the same time though, Sydney’s other winch-equipped rescue helicopter the Westpac Lifesaver 1 was out on another job, which Careflight says highlights the need for two winch-equipped EMS helicopters in Sydney.

Responding to the criticism, a spokesperson for the NSW Health Department noted that simultaneous use of two of Sydney’s three rescue helicopters occurred only 0.6% of the time.

Chinook For China?

Boeing is believed to have approached the Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation regarding restarting production of the Model 234 Commercial Chinook in China.

Boeing is understood to have approached Harbin regarding establishing a full production line for the Commercial Chinook in China and discussions may have been underway for up to 12 months. The removal of the 44-seat FAA certificated Commercial Chinook from the US Government’s restricted munitions list has opened the way for such an ambitious proposal.

Harbin’s helicopter manufacturing experience includes licence manufacture of more than 50 Eurocopter Dauphins as the Z-9 Haitun (Dolphin).

CAE Wins Black Hawk Simulator

CAE Electronics, teamed with Qantas, has been selected to supply the Army with a full-motion high-fidelity Black Hawk simulator. The new simulator should be the first helicopter simulator certificated to CAA Level 5/FAA AC 120-63 standard, the highest level of civil certification for a helicopter simulator.

It will be capable of simulating nap-of-the-earth flying by day and at night with night vision goggles. It will provide a greater level of training than is currently possible and will release valuable Black Hawk flying hours for operational use.

Australian industry involvement will include CAE Electronics Australia and Qantas work on development, installation and day-to-day maintenance, engineering and logistics support.

Italy Orders EH 101s

Italy has ordered 16 EH 101s from Agusta for its Navy.

The order covers eight anti-submarine and anti-surface vessel equipped EH 101s and four utility transport versions. The helicopters will be assembled by Agusta and first deliveries are expected for early 1998. The Italian Navy order is in addition to the UK Royal Navy’s order for 44 ASW EH 101 Merlins and the RAF’s order for 22 EH 101 utility transports.

The three-engined 13-tonne EH 101 is built jointly by Westland in the UK and Agusta of Italy.

Navy Safety Audit

The RAN recently conducted a safety audit into its aircraft operations at the request of Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Rod Taylor.

The safety audit arose in part from the crash of one of the Navy’s Sea Kings at Bamaga and investigated concerns about lack of aircrew currency. The Bamaga crash reduces the Navy’s Sea King fleet to six, one of which is based on HMAS Success, while the whole fleet is being rotated through a life extension program, reducing the aircraft’s availability. The audit did not affect flying operations.

Airbags For Apache

US company Simula is to install and test front and left and right side airbags in an AH-64 Apache as part of efforts to reduce aircrew injuries in helicopter crashes.

According to US Army research, the installation of airbags in helicopters would cut fatalities by 25% and minor and major injuries by 50%. Head and torso injuries account for more than half the major injuries sustained by helicopter crews in otherwise survivable crashes.

The US Army has been studying fitting airbags to helicopters since 1993. A helicopter airbag system would weigh around five to eight kilograms and they are designed so that in an accidental airbag inflation they do not block the flight controls, disrupt the pilot’s view of instruments, interrupt the mission or affect safety.

About $US20 to 25m will be required to fit airbag systems to the US Army’s 750-strong Apache fleet. Subsequently, the US Army plans to fit its 4000 CH-47s, UH-60s and OH-58s with airbags although such a programme is currently unfunded. Other US military, Coast Guard and FAA helicopters are also scheduled to be fitted with airbags.

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Briefs

Kamov is integrating the Kh-25MP (AS-12 ‘Kegler’) anti-radiation missile with its Ka-50 Hokum single-seat attack helicopter. So equipped Ka-50s could fly escort to other Ka-50s on anti-tank missions.

City of Melbourne Chief Commissioner Kevan Gosper has proposed that part of the disused Sandridge rail bridge across the Yarra could be the relocated site for the Yarra heliport. A new location must be found as the Batman Park heliport will have to close due to redevelopment on the north bank of the Yarra.

Free subscription! Introductory six months free subscription! Aero-News. A bi-monthly newsletter for the GA and ultralight industry. Tons of local news and product updates. Safety section is very popular also. We even have tax and maintenance tips for owners and pilots. Use our free job clipping service and “Jobs Wanted” column. Call (07) 3300 6061 or 015 641 774 and leave your name and address. Please speak slowly! Cranford Publications Pty Ltd PO Box 154, THE GAP QLD 4061 This mock-up of the two seat Kamov Ka-52 ‘Hokum’ variant of the single seat Ka-50 made its debut at the recent Moscow Airshow (Alex Radetskij).

The second MD 600N development aircraft was due to make its first flight in November.

Sandy Hollow has officially opened its own helipad to service the Hunter Region Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

A charity ball conducted by a Hunter District Rotary club rose $2000 for the Hunter Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.

Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital hopes to raise $1.1m from corporate sponsors to fund the construction of a helipad and covered walkway directly into the hospital’s intensive care unit.

Rotorway is now offering a removable cargo pod for its Exec 162F kit-built helicopter. Nicknamed the ‘Helipac’, the 76cm x 91cm (30in x 36in) pod can also contain the Exec’s removable doors.