Rotor Torque

New Bankstown Bell Support Facility

Helitech has established a Bell Helicopter Support Facility at Bankstown Airport, headed by Kim Stevenson. The new facility will provide maintenance support for Bell helicopter owners, supply spare parts and market new helicopters.

Nh 90 & Comanche Fly

Two of the decade’s most significant and troubled military helicopter programmes, the NH 90 and Boeing/Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche, successfully completed their maiden flights recently. The first prototype NH 90 flew for the first time on December 18 from Eurocopter France’s Marignane plant, three years after the signature of the Design and Development contract. The twin engined 10 tonne class advanced helicopter is being developed in battlefield transport and maritime/ASW configurations for France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. Four more flying prototypes are planned, while production deliveries are scheduled for 2000/2001. Meanwhile the prototype Comanche first flew on January 4 from Sikorsky’s Development Flight Test Centre in West Palm Beach, Florida. The one hour flight included basic manoeuvres such as forward flight, hovering and turning. The prototype was rolled out in May last year and was originally planned to fly in December. Funding has been allocated for two prototypes and six early operational capability Comanches for trials.

Nsw Medevac Resolution Nears

The uncertainty which has surrounded the Sydney aeromedical retrieval services since August last year when NSW health minister Andrew Refshauge announced structural changes was closer to resolution as we went to press, writes Peter Cush. 82 Australian Aviation March 1996 Problems associated with the tender document’s technical specifications necessitated a series of meetings with interested parties and the subsequent issue of tender addenda, which delayed close of tenders until February 1. Closed tenders have been called for the east and west Sydney services and the new Canberra service, to which it is understood Westpac Lifesaver, NRMA Careflight, Child Flight and Lloyd Helicopters have prepared responses. Careflight, Westpac Lifesaver and Child Flight were discussing taking advantage of a tender provision which allows collaborative tendering. Meanwhile, open tenders have been called for the Newcastle and Lismore services, to which the existing operators have responded, as well as Lloyd Helicopters, which provides SAR services with S-76s for the Air Force at a number of RAAF bases.

Bae Offers Sea Skua Production

British Aerospace is reportedly offering to establish a local production line for its Sea Skua anti ship missile as part of its bid to supply the missile for the RAN’s forthcoming Anzac helicopter. A production line and support facility would be established in conjunction with British Aerospace Australia and the DSTO at the Navy’s planned armaments depot at Point Wilson near Geelong. Such a facility would give the Navy the capability to modify the Sea Skua to meet its specific requirements. The Sea Skua, fired by Royal Navy Lynxes, was particularly effective in the Gulf War.

Czech MiGs For Helicopters Swap

The Czech and Polish governments have agreed to swap 10 stored MiG-29 fighters for 11 PZL Swidnik W-3 Sokol helicopters. The Czech air force had a pressing requirement to replace ageing PZL Swidnik built Mi-2s which it uses for search and rescue and medevac duties. Polish approval of the plan was given in mid December, with the delivery of the 10 MiGs starting soon after (Poland already operates 20 MiG-29s). The barter agreement will see Poland supplying other goods and services, but no cash was/will be transferred.

Kiwi Anzac Shortlist

The New Zealand Ministry of Defence has shortlisted the Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite and the Westland Super Lynx to meet its requirement for naval helicopters to replace the Wasp for operations from Leander and Anzac class frigates. The Sikorsky S-76N and Eurocopter Panther were ruled out because they did not meet operational and technical requirements. A decision is expected in April. (refer New Zealand News)

Netherlands Gets First Chinooks

The Royal Netherlands Air Force has taken delivery of its first of 13 glass cockpit equipped Boeing CH-47D Chinooks. The first two CH-47s arrived in the Netherlands in December, with two more following in January. Handover was originally planned for January last year, however problems were experienced with integration of the Dutch Chinooks’ Honeywell Advanced Cockpit Management System. The 13 Chinooks (a mix of seven refurbished ex Canadian aircraft and six new build examples) will form part of a 60 helicopter strong airmobile brigade, along with 17 Eurocopter AS 532U2 Cougars and 30 McDonnell Douglas NAH-64D Apaches.

Briefs

Tasmania’s Mercury newspaper has signed a three year sponsorship deal for the state’s search and rescue helicopter. The helo is shared by Tasmania’s police, fire and ambulance services. Meanwhile in Rockhampton a sponsorship pledge from a major coal mining company means the Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service for the Gladstone region will be established, regardless of Queensland State Government support.

Bell Helicopter Textron has named Webb F Joiner as its new chairman, while Lloyd Shoppa has been named president, succeeding Mr Joiner.

The Polish Aviation Institute based in Warsaw and PZL Swidnik have announced their development of an all new two seat light helicopter, powered by a Textron Lycoming piston engine, over a three year period. The project has state funding.

Transport Canada granted the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206C turboshaft its type certificate in early January. The 640shp (477kW) takeoff rated PW206C has been selected for the Agusta A 109 Power. P&WC shipped the first PW206Cs to Agusta in January.

The Belgium Gendarmerie (national police) has ordered two MD Explorers for delivery later this year with an option on a third. The Explorers will be used for patrol and intervention work throughout Belgium, and will be fitted with a FLIR, low light TV camera, winch and emergency floats.

British Aerospace has dropped its bid to meet the UK Ministry of Defence’s requirement to establish and support a tri-service helicopter training school — the Defence Helicopter Flying Training Squadron. BAe planned using a mix of Eurocopter EC 135s and Ecureuils but said it could not put together a viable business plan. BAe’s withdrawal leaves Hunting/Bonds and Shorts competing for the project to operate up to 40 single and 12 twin engined helicopters (replacing ageing Gazelles and Wessexes).

NRMA Careflight’s 412 was used to guide a Cessna 172 to a safe landing at Bathurst in January after the pilot became lost in cloud.

Westland delivered the first Sea King to be upgraded under the Life of Type Extension programme to the RAN on January 16. The upgrade, performed by Westland and British Aerospace Australia at Nowra, involves new communications and navigation systems, upgraded radar, airframe modifications and minor mechanical changes. The six upgraded Sea Kings will remain in service in their maritime utility role until 2008.